Does Indian River County, FL have its own short-term rental permits ordinance?

No. Indian River County, FL does not appear to have a local short-term rental permits ordinance, Florida state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from Florida Statutes.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Indian River County

Indian River County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

State preemption: No local STR ban
County license: Required, Sec. 911.15
Ordinance: 2016-006
State license: DBPR transient lodging

Summary

Florida preempts local vacation-rental bans (Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b)), so Indian River County cannot prohibit STRs. It instead requires a county vacation rental license under Code Sec. 911.15 (Ord. 2016-006), plus a state DBPR license.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Indian River County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals.

Source: Florida StatutesView official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

Florida law bars local governments from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating their duration or frequency (Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b)). Indian River County allows vacation rentals - units rented under 30 days - in the unincorporated area, but under Chapter 911, Sec. 911.15 (adopted by Ord. 2016-006) the owner must obtain a vacation rental license from the Community Development Department. Operators also need a Florida DBPR transient public lodging license, a Department of Revenue tax certificate, and a 24/7 rental-unit manager contact on file. Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Indian River Shores run their own STR programs inside city limits.

Violations & Fines

Operating an unlicensed vacation rental is a code violation handled by Code Enforcement. Hosting a prohibited commercial event carries steep fines - $1,000 for a first event and up to $5,000 for repeats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Indian River County ban my Airbnb?

No. Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b) bars the county from prohibiting vacation rentals or capping their duration or frequency. It can require licensing, safety, parking, and occupancy rules.

What do I need to run an STR here?

A county vacation rental license under Code Sec. 911.15, a Florida DBPR transient lodging license, a Department of Revenue tax certificate, and a 24/7 local manager contact.

Sources & Official References

[1]Florida Statutes

Other rules in Indian River County

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All Indian River County rules

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

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