Manatee County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Manatee County, FL, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Registration required now?
- No: none adopted
- Draft initial fee
- $250 (proposed)
- Draft renewal fee
- $150/year (proposed)
- Draft responsible party
- 24/7, on-site within 1 hour
- Earliest hearing
- After July 28, 2026
Summary
Unincorporated Manatee County has no adopted STR registration ordinance as of mid-2026. A draft ordinance (proposed June 2026) would require registration with a $250 initial fee and $150 annual renewal, but it was not adopted before the county's summer recess.
A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Florida FS 509.032(7)(a) lets local governments register STRs, inspect for compliance, and set reasonable registration fees, but they may not prohibit rentals or cap duration/frequency. Manatee County has not yet exercised that registration power in the unincorporated area. On June 16, 2026 commissioners unanimously directed staff to review and return an executable draft; the draft would require registration ($250 initial, $150 renewal), a 24/7 responsible party who responds on-site within one hour, and occupancy/parking limits. It will not be heard before July 28, 2026. Until adopted, no county registration is required.
Violations & Fines
No county registration penalty exists yet (no ordinance adopted). Any future fine would be set by the ordinance when passed. State DBPR licensing enforcement still applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a registration I must complete today?
Will registration replace the ban I heard about?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manatee County
How Manatee County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Manatee County to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.