Cape Coral short-term rentals (six months or less) must pay a $350 annual city rental registration fee, the Lee County 5% Tourist Development Tax, the 6% Florida state sales tax, plus a 1.5% Lee County discretionary sales surtax. A Florida DBPR vacation rental license is also required under F.S. Chapter 509.
Effective January 1, 2026, Cape Coral requires every residential rental property to register annually through the Energov Citizen Self Service portal. Short-term rentals (rented for periods of six months or less) pay $350 per property per year, compared to $35 for long-term rentals. Renewal is on the anniversary of the original registration with a $50 late fee if not renewed within 30 days. Lee County imposes a 5% Tourist Development Tax on the gross rental amount (including cleaning fees) for stays of six months or less, collected and remitted by the dealer to the Lee County Clerk; Airbnb, VRBO, and similar platforms remit the TDT directly. Florida adds 6% state sales tax plus a 0.5% Lee County discretionary surtax on transient rentals. Operators must also hold a Florida DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants vacation rental license under F.S. 509.241 and a state sales/use tax certificate from the Department of Revenue. Misrepresenting a short-term rental as a long-term rental is a separate violation.
Failure to register or pay the annual fee carries fines of $500 for a first short-term rental violation and $1,000 for repeat offenses. Misrepresenting rental type triggers $1,000 first-offense and $2,000 repeat-offense fines within 36 months. Unpaid Lee County Tourist Development Tax accrues interest, penalties, and may be enforced as a tax lien by the Lee County Clerk.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral §12-22 (Noise Control Ordinance, amended Dec 2019) prohibits noise plainly audible at 50 feet between 11 PM and 7 AM from any radio, TV, musical i...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral Land Development Code Section 5.2.7 limits residential fences in the front setback, allows up to 6 feet in side and rear yards, and requires open ...
Cape Coral, FL
Dogs in Cape Coral must be under direct control on a leash not exceeding 8 feet in length under Lee County Animal Control Ordinance. Cape Coral Code Chapter ...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral generally allows lawn ornaments, statues, flamingos, garden gnomes, and similar decorative items without a permit. Cape Coral Code Section 5.5.13 ...
Cape Coral, FL
Inflatable holiday displays (giant snowmen, Halloween figures, Easter bunnies) are not specifically regulated by Cape Coral's Code of Ordinances and are gene...
Cape Coral, FL
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