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Fort Lauderdale Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules Rules (2026)

Q: Do I need to register my Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale?

Yes. Under Code Section 15-272, every residential property rented to transient occupants more than three times per calendar year for periods of less than 30 days must register with the City before any rental activity. Registration is annual, runs through the LauderBuild portal, and requires a $350 initial fee. You must first obtain a DBPR Transient Public Lodging license, a Florida Department of Revenue Certificate of Registration, a Broward County Local Business Tax Receipt, and a Broward County Tourist Development Tax account.

Q: What is the 25-mile responsible party rule?

Code Article X requires every registered vacation rental to designate a Responsible Party who is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle complaints and emergencies. That person must reside within 25 air miles of the rental, measured from the closest property lines of the rental and the responsible party's residence. The contact must be on file with the City and posted inside the unit.

Q: When does my Fort Lauderdale vacation rental certificate expire?

All Vacation Rental Certificates of Compliance issued by Fort Lauderdale expire on September 30 each year, regardless of when first issued. The City asks owners to file renewal applications by August 1 to allow time for inspection scheduling. Renewal fees are $160 for non-owner-occupied units and $80 for owner-occupied units. Operating after September 30 without renewal is a code violation.

Heavy Restrictions

Verified today|Source: Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances Ch. 15, Art. X (Vacation Rental) →

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Key Facts

Authority: Fort Lauderdale Code Ch. 15, Art. X (Sec. 15-271 to 15-278)
Enacting Ordinance: Ord. C-15-29 (eff. Nov. 1, 2015)
Definition Trigger: >3 transient rentals/year, <30 days each
City Registration Fee: $350 initial (incl. first 2 inspections)

Summary

Fort Lauderdale requires every vacation rental (transient stays of 30 days or less) to register annually with the City under Code Chapter 15, Article X (Sections 15-271 through 15-278) and pass a life-safety inspection before a Certificate of Compliance is issued through LauderBuild.

Full Breakdown

Vacation rentals are governed by Fort Lauderdale Code Chapter 15, Article X (Ord. C-15-29, eff. November 1, 2015), defined as a residential unit rented to transient occupants more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less. Section 15-272 requires registration before any rental activity. Owners must first hold a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Transient Public Lodging license under FS 509.241, a Florida Department of Revenue Certificate of Registration, a Broward County Local Business Tax Receipt, and a Broward County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) account. Annual registration runs through LauderBuild and expires September 30 (renew by August 1). Owners must designate a 24/7 Responsible Party who lives within 25 air miles of the property. Inspection confirms compliance with Section 15-278 standards.

Violations & Fines

Operating an unregistered vacation rental is a code violation enforceable by Community Enhancement and Compliance with daily Special Magistrate fines, plus state DBPR penalties under FS 509.241 for operating without a Transient Public Lodging license.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register my Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale?

Yes. Under Code Section 15-272, every residential property rented to transient occupants more than three times per calendar year for periods of less than 30 days must register with the City before any rental activity. Registration is annual, runs through the LauderBuild portal, and requires a $350 initial fee. You must first obtain a DBPR Transient Public Lodging license, a Florida Department of Revenue Certificate of Registration, a Broward County Local Business Tax Receipt, and a Broward County Tourist Development Tax account.

What is the 25-mile responsible party rule?

Code Article X requires every registered vacation rental to designate a Responsible Party who is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle complaints and emergencies. That person must reside within 25 air miles of the rental, measured from the closest property lines of the rental and the responsible party's residence. The contact must be on file with the City and posted inside the unit.

When does my Fort Lauderdale vacation rental certificate expire?

All Vacation Rental Certificates of Compliance issued by Fort Lauderdale expire on September 30 each year, regardless of when first issued. The City asks owners to file renewal applications by August 1 to allow time for inspection scheduling. Renewal fees are $160 for non-owner-occupied units and $80 for owner-occupied units. Operating after September 30 without renewal is a code violation.

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Fort Lauderdale Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules Rules (2026)

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