Davie, FL Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

There is no primary-residence requirement in Davie Code Chapter 16, Article IX. The ordinance regulates any single-family, two-, three-, or four-family dwelling rented as a vacation rental, regardless of whether the owner lives there. The town's own fee schedule lists distinct renewal fees for non-owner-occupied vacation rentals ($450) and owner-occupied vacation rentals ($400), confirming that investor-owned and whole-home rentals are permitted, not banned. The only place owner-occupancy matters is the occupancy standard in Sec. 16-156(b)(2): the gathering cap (1.5x the overnight maximum) does not apply to owner-occupied vacation rentals when the owner is physically present during the gathering. This treats owner-occupied properties more leniently but does not require owner occupancy. Davie's approach reflects Florida's preemption: Fla. Stat. Sec. 509.032(7) prohibits local governments (with limited pre-June 1, 2011 grandfathering) from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating them based solely on classification, use, or occupancy. A primary-residence-only mandate would effectively ban non-resident rentals and is generally not permitted for ordinances adopted after that date — Davie's Article IX was adopted in 2021.