Palm Bay, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Palm Bay, FL, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- City STR Ordinance
- None as of 2026
- State Preemption
- FL §509.032: no local bans
- DBPR License
- Required statewide
- County BTR Fee
- $37 annually
Summary
Palm Bay does not have a city-specific short-term rental ordinance or registration requirement as of 2026. Florida law preempts local STR bans under FL Statute 509.032. Operators must register with the Florida DBPR and obtain a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt.
(7)  PREEMPTION AUTHORITY. — (a)  The regulation of public lodging establishments and public food service establishments, including, but not limited to, sanitation standards, inspections, training and testing of personnel, and matters related to the nutritional content and marketing of foods offered in such establishments, is preempted to the state. This paragraph does not preempt the authority of a local government or local enforcement district to conduct inspections of public lodging and public food service establishments for compliance with the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, pursuant to ss. 553.80 and 633.206 . (b)  A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011. (c)  Paragraph (b) does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation exclusively relating to property valuation as a criterion for vacation rental if the local law, ordinance, or regulation is required to be approved by the state land planning agency pursuant to an area of critical state concern designation.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
The City of Palm Bay has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental ordinance. Florida's 2011 preemption under FL Statute 509.032 prevents cities from banning vacation rentals outright. STR operators must obtain a state license through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt ($37 annual fee), and comply with all applicable building, fire, and safety codes. Zoning verification should be confirmed with Palm Bay Code Compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to list my property on Airbnb in Palm Bay?
What are the short-term rental registration requirements in Palm Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Bay
How Palm Bay compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Bay to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brevard County handle short-term rental permits.