Miami-Dade County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Primary residence rule
- None countywide
- FL preemption
- §509.032(7)
- Occupancy cap
- 2 per bedroom + 2
- Registration
- Required all STRs
Summary
Miami-Dade does not impose a countywide primary-residence requirement on short-term rentals, but Florida statute §509.032 and Ord. 14-77 limit the county's ability to ban non-owner-occupied rentals where zoning otherwise permits transient use.
A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011.
Full Breakdown
Florida partially preempts STR regulation under §509.032(7), barring local governments from prohibiting STRs outright or regulating them more strictly than other dwellings unless the ordinance predates June 1, 2011. Miami-Dade Ord. 14-77 was crafted within this preemption window and does not restrict rentals to primary residences. Instead, the county relies on zoning compatibility, occupancy caps (two persons per bedroom plus two), and registration. Investor-owned absentee STRs are lawful in tourism and multi-family districts but face heavy zoning friction in single-family neighborhoods.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unregistered STR, regardless of residency status, violates Ord. 14-77 and Ch. 8CC, with escalating civil fines and potential use revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miami-Dade require STR hosts to live at the property?
Can the county add a primary-residence rule later?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami-Dade County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami-Dade County to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.