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Sarasota, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in Sarasota, FL, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

Transferable?
No -- non-transferable, non-assignable
On sale
New owner must apply in 15 days
Lapse
Old certificate void on day 16
Multiple properties
Separate certificate required each

Summary

City of Sarasota vacation rental certificates are non-transferable, tied to one owner and one property, and a sale or ownership change voids the old certificate within 15 days.

Certificates of registration are non-transferable and non-assignable. The certificate of registration when issued shall pertain only to the property owner designated on the certificate for use at the one (1) specific property identified on the certificate... A new certificate of registration is required if ownership of the vacation rental changes from the owner(s) identified on the certificate.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Zoning: Supplement 44).

Full Breakdown

Under City of Sarasota Code § 34.5-8, a vacation rental certificate of registration belongs only to the owner and the single property named on it -- it can't be sold, transferred, or reused at a different address, and a separate certificate is needed for each additional rental the same owner operates. When a vacation rental changes hands, the new owner has 15 days from the sale to apply for a fresh initial certificate and a new inspection; if they don't, the prior certificate becomes null and void on the 16th day after the sale.

Violations & Fines

Renting on a voided or unregistered certificate after a sale is treated as operating without registration under § 34.5-4(a), triggering fines and possible enforcement before the special magistrate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Sarasota vacation rental certificate be transferred to a new owner?
No. City Code § 34.5-8 makes certificates non-transferable; a new owner must apply for their own initial certificate within 15 days of the sale.
What happens if the new owner doesn't register in time?
The prior certificate becomes null and void on the 16th day after the sale, and the property can't lawfully be rented as a vacation rental until re-registered.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sarasota

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise RulesSome RestrictionsHost Presence RuleFew RestrictionsTaxes & FeesSome RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental Parking RulesSome RestrictionsRepeat Violator StrikesSignificant RestrictionsExtended Home ShareFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Sarasota rules

How Sarasota compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview

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