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

Wellington's Land Development Regulations, Section 6.2.2.A.5(c), make the vacation rental permit sequence mandatory before any short-term rental activity begins: no property owner, responsible party, or third-party platform entity may offer or allow occupancy of a vacation rental "without first obtaining a special use permit from Wellington and then obtaining a business tax receipt (BTR) from Wellington and Palm Beach County." A special use permit is required for each individual rental unit, is not transferable to a new owner, and a new or amended permit is required whenever a change in ownership or a modification increases the rental's square footage, bedroom count, maximum occupancy, or parking.

The application itself must identify the rental's address and the responsible party's name, address, phone number and email, among other required information, so Wellington can reach an accountable contact for the property. Enforcement carries real teeth: under the permit's offenses and revocation provisions, a special magistrate can revoke a vacation rental's special use permit upon a fifth finding of violation within a six-month period, with the revocation lasting up to two years, and a single serious offense involving injury, underage drinking, drugs, or prostitution on the property lets the planning director immediately suspend the permit pending a special magistrate hearing. Appeals of a suspension, revocation, or denial follow Florida's administrative appeal statute as incorporated into the Village's process.