Polk County cannot restrict vacation rentals to owner-occupied or primary residences. FS 509.032(7)(b) bars local laws that prohibit vacation rentals or regulate their frequency or duration, so non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed.
A primary-residence-only mandate would effectively prohibit or restrict the frequency of vacation rentals, which FS 509.032(7)(b) forbids for any rule adopted after June 1, 2011. Polk County therefore imposes no owner-occupancy requirement; investors may operate whole-home short-term rentals in the unincorporated area subject only to state DBPR licensing and county tax obligations. Only a pre-2011 grandfathered local rule could impose such a limit, and Polk has none of record.
No county penalty applies—there is no primary-residence rule to violate; operators remain subject to state licensing and county tax enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Lakeland, FL
Lakeland prohibits storing abandoned, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or visible on private property. Vehicles may be tagged and towed...
Lakeland, FL
Lakeland regulates electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residential and commercial properties. Building codes may require EV-ready parking in new con...
Lakeland, FL
Lakeland regulates overnight parking on public streets. Many areas restrict parking between certain hours or require permits for overnight street parking.
Lakeland, FL
Lakeland requires pool barriers meeting safety codes to prevent drowning. Fences must be at least 4 to 5 feet tall with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Lakeland, FL
Lakeland requires permits for retaining walls above a certain height, typically 4 feet. Engineering review may be required for taller walls.
Lakeland, FL
Lakeland restricts or prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife including deer, coyotes, and bears. Feeding wildlife creates public safety hazards and nuisan...
See how Lakeland's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.