Palm Beach County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Palm Beach County, FL, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Renewal deadline
- Annually, no later than September 30
- Registration requires
- Business Tax Receipt + TDT account
- Per-property rule
- Each rental property registered individually
- Revocation penalty
- One-year wait before reapplying
- Governing law
- Palm Beach County Code § 17-117
Summary
Hosts renting short-term in unincorporated Palm Beach County must file a registration application and pay fees for a Business Tax Receipt and Tourist Development Tax account before advertising any rental.
(1)Home Sharing Registration. To register for Home Sharing, a Host shall file an application and remit the required fee to the Tax Collector for a BTR and TDT account. Both of these are required to be considered approved and registered within the meaning of this Section.(2)Vacation Rental Registration. To register a Vacation Rental, a Host shall file an application and remit the required fee to the Tax Collector for a BTR and TDT account. Both of these are required to be considered approved and registered within the meaning of this Section.
Full Breakdown
Under Code § 17-117(d), a Host must file an application and pay the required fee for both a Business Tax Receipt and Tourist Development Tax account to register a property for Home Sharing (host present) or Vacation Rental (host absent): both approvals are required before the listing counts as registered. Each property a Host operates must be registered individually, and eligibility depends on whether the unit is the Host's own occupied residence. Registration is not transferable, runs with the specific unit, and must be renewed annually no later than September 30; missing that deadline bars further advertising until renewal is filed.
Violations & Fines
Advertising or renting without a registered BTR and TDT account violates Sec. 17-117(g); the Tax Collector can also revoke a registration for violations, and revoked hosts must wait one year before reapplying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my Airbnb in unincorporated Palm Beach County?
How often do I have to renew my short-term rental registration?
What happens if the county revokes my registration?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
How Palm Beach County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
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