Fort Lauderdale, FL Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

Under Article X (Vacation Rental) of Chapter 15 of the Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, adopted by Ordinance No. C-15-29 (effective Nov. 1, 2015) and amended by C-16-25 and C-23-34, it is unlawful to rent or advertise a single-family, two-family, three-family, or four-family dwelling as a vacation rental unless the owner has registered the property with the city and the property has been issued a Certificate of Compliance (Sec. 15-272(a)). A 'vacation rental' is any such dwelling rented to transient occupants more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days, or advertised as regularly so rented (Sec. 15-271). The application under Sec. 15-273 must provide owner and 24/7 responsible-party contact information and proof of: current ownership; Florida Department of Revenue registration for sales tax; Broward County registration for Tourist Development Tax; and a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation transient public lodging license. The city issues a Certificate of Compliance only after the application is complete, all fees are paid, a city business tax receipt and a Broward County business tax receipt are obtained, and the unit passes an on-site inspection under Sec. 15-279 (Sec. 15-277). Florida preempts the field of lodging regulation, and Fla. Stat. Sec. 509.032(7)(b) bars local governments from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating their duration or frequency; Fort Lauderdale's registration program regulates standards, life-safety, and operation rather than banning rentals, so it operates alongside the state license requirement.