Short-term rental permit rules in Lake County, FL — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Florida preempts vacation-rental licensing to the state. Lake County cannot require a local operating permit that bans or limits your rental. You must hold a state DBPR vacation-rental license and register for the county Tourist Development Tax.
Under FS 509.032(7) the regulation of public lodging is preempted to the state, and counties may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate rental duration or frequency. So Lake County has no permit that can block a lawful STR in the unincorporated area. Operators still need a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Division of Hotels and Restaurants vacation-rental license (FS 509.241), a state sales-tax certificate, and a Lake County Tourist Development Tax account. Inside cities (Clermont, Leesburg, Tavares, Mount Dora), check the city — this page covers unincorporated Lake County only.
Operating an unlicensed public lodging establishment is subject to DBPR administrative fines and license suspension under FS 509.261; unpaid county tourist tax accrues penalties and interest.
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