--- title: "Florida Vacation Rental Advertising Rules: What Listings Need" description: "What Florida law says about vacation rental listings, why there is no statewide license-number rule, and which local codes require numbers in every ad." url: https://floridahosts.com/resources/florida-vacation-rental-advertising-rules/ --- ![Light-filled condo living room with a white sofa, ceiling fan and balcony doors — vacation rental photography](/images/vacation-rental-photography.webp) Hosting & Operations # Florida Vacation Rental Advertising Rules: What Listings Need What Florida law says about vacation rental listings, why there is no statewide license-number rule, and which local codes require numbers in every ad. 10,000+ guest reviews since 2016 · [Call (321) 321-2348](tel:+13213212348) Free rental projection — about a minute Free, no obligation. Prefer to talk? Call [(321) 321-2348](tel:+13213212348). By the Florida Hosts team · October 13, 2026 · Hosting & Operations Florida has no statewide rule requiring a DBPR license number in a vacation rental listing: [section 509.241](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.241.html) of the 2026 Florida Statutes requires license numbers in advertising only for catering. The rules that do reach listings are local. Cities and counties from Miami Beach to Walton County require registration numbers in every ad, and several also require occupancy and parking. ## What does Florida law say about advertising a vacation rental? Advertising can create the licensing obligation by itself. [Section 509.013(4)(a)1](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.013.html) defines a transient public lodging establishment as a unit rented more than three times in a calendar year for less than 30 consecutive days, or one advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented for such periods. A live listing for nightly stays meets the second test before the first booking. Three more state rules shape what a listing can say: - A public lodging establishment may advertise a specific classification only if it holds a license for that classification and meets its requirements ([§509.242(3)](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.242.html)). - The Division of Hotels and Restaurants is responsible for making sure licensed operators do not engage in misleading advertising or unethical practices ([§509.032(1)](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.032.html)). - A charge separate from or added to the room rate that is not disclosed in writing at check-in is an unethical business practice under DBPR [Rule 61C-3.002](https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=61C-3.002). Show cleaning, pet and other fees in the listing and the booking confirmation. ## Did Florida pass a law requiring license numbers on Airbnb listings? Not yet. The Legislature passed [CS/SB 280 (2024)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/280), and the [Senate’s bill summary](https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/billsummaries/2024/html/280) says it required advertising platforms to display each property’s vacation rental license number and, if applicable, its local registration number. The Governor vetoed it on June 27, 2024. In the 2026 session, a vacation rental bill that passed the Senate, [CS/CS/SB 658](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/658), dealt with pool and water safety, and it died in the House on March 13, 2026. So the statewide rules today are the definition and conduct rules above. Check each new legislative session for changes. ## Which local rules require registration numbers in ads? These requirements come from the local codes cited on our city pages: Place What every ad must show Source [Miami Beach](/miami-beach/) City business tax receipt number and resort tax certificate number, conspicuously, in every ad or listing [City Code §102-386(j)](https://library.municode.com/fl/miami_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH102TA_ARTVLOBUTA_S102-386PROWRERELEPETRREOCSHRMREPR) Walton County ([Santa Rosa Beach](/santa-rosa-beach/), [Miramar Beach](/miramar-beach/)) Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate number and TDT registration number; occupancy and parking must match the certificate [Ordinance 2023-03](https://www.mywaltonfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/39890/Walton-County-FL-Short-Term-Vacation-Rental-Certification-Program-and-Neighborhood-Compatibility-Ordinance-) [Indian Rocks Beach](/indian-rocks-beach/) City vacation rental registration number, maximum occupancy, available parking and a required good-neighbor noise statement [Code §18-214](https://library.municode.com/fl/indian_rocks_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH18BU_ARTVVARERE) [Hollywood](/hollywood/) State DBPR license number and city Vacation Rental License number on all advertising [City checklist](https://www.hollywoodfl.org/DocumentCenter/View/19221/Vacation-Rental-License-Application-Check-list) Palm Beach County ([Boca Raton](/boca-raton/), [Jupiter](/jupiter/)) Tourist development tax account number and Short-Term Rental Business Tax Receipt number on online listings [Palm Beach County Tax Collector](https://www.pbctax.gov/short-term-rental-business-tax-receipt-application-options/) [Panama City Beach](/panama-city-beach/) City business tax receipt number on every hosting-platform listing [City Code §14-31](https://library.municode.com/fl/panama_city_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH14LILITA_S14-31REOPTRREREREPUPRLIHOPLREBUTARENU) [Clermont](/clermont/) DBPR license number and city permit number [Code Ch. 125, Art. V, Div. 3](https://library.municode.com/fl/clermont/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH125ZO_ARTVSUDIRE_DIV3SHRMVAREPR) [Holmes Beach](/holmes-beach/) Occupancy, parking, minimum stay and the certificate number [City vacation rental certificates](https://holmesbeachfl.org/departments/vacation_rental_certificates.php) [Fort Pierce](/fort-pierce/) Registration number, maximum occupancy, maximum parking and a link to the city’s good neighbor brochure [Code Ch. 22, Art. X](https://library.municode.com/fl/fort_pierce/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH22BUBURE_ARTXSHTEVARERE) [Sarasota](/sarasota/) Vacation rental certificate number [City registration page](https://www.sarasotafl.gov/Department-Pages/Development-Services/Vacation-Rental-Registration-and-Compliance) [Fort Myers Beach](/fort-myers-beach/) Town registration number [Code Ch. 10, Art. VIII](https://library.municode.com/fl/fort_myers_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH10BU_ARTVIIISHRMVARE) [Sanibel](/sanibel/) Dwelling rental license number [Code Ch. 126, Art. XIV, Div. 7](https://library.municode.com/fl/sanibel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH126ZO_ARTXIVSUDIRE_DIV7DWRE) [Fernandina Beach](/fernandina-beach/) Resort rental dwelling permit number [Code §26-101](https://library.municode.com/fl/fernandina_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH26BU_ARTVREREDWPE_S26-101PERE) [Dunedin](/dunedin/) City registration number [LDC §103-14.7.2](https://library.municode.com/fl/dunedin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH103ZO_DIV1IN_103-14.7.2RERE) The penalties are real. Miami Beach fines a first violation of section 102-386 at $1,000, and a second within six months at $5,000 with revocation of the business tax receipt. Panama City Beach’s section 14-31 carries fines from $1,000 to $5,000. ## What else do local ad rules require? Some codes go beyond numbers: - Miami Beach requires a sworn affidavit, including the business tax receipt and resort tax registration, before a home can be advertised at all. Units in an apartment-hotel or condo-hotel must carry a disclaimer that they are not affiliated with the hotel operator ([§102-386](https://library.municode.com/fl/miami_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH102TA_ARTVLOBUTA_S102-386PROWRERELEPETRREOCSHRMREPR)). - Indian Rocks Beach bars advertising a vacation rental as an event venue for weddings, corporate retreats or film shoots likely to exceed its occupancy or parking limits, and ads with missing or inaccurate information are violations ([§18-214](https://library.municode.com/fl/indian_rocks_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH18BU_ARTVVARERE)). - Cocoa Beach has a separate chapter penalizing listings that advertise more occupants than allowed ([Chapter 13.1](https://library.municode.com/fl/cocoa_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH13.1MIAD)). ## Where can the ad itself break the rules? In places that restrict short stays, these codes treat the listing itself as a violation or as evidence of one: - The City of [Naples](/naples/) says a home may not be advertised as available for rentals under 30 days ([city FAQ](https://www.naplesgov.com/faqs/all/56161)). - [New Smyrna Beach](/new-smyrna-beach/) prohibits advertising a use that is not permitted in the zoning district ([LDR §504.00](https://library.municode.com/fl/new_smyrna_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIILADERE_ARTVZODI_504.00DIRERE)). - [Clearwater](/clearwater/) treats vacation rental advertising as evidence of a prohibited short rental in residential zones ([CDC §3-919](https://library.municode.com/fl/clearwater/codes/community_development_code?nodeId=PTICODECO_ARTIIIDEST_DIV9GEAPST_S3-919PRFAEVCEUSREZODI)). - In [Sanibel](/sanibel/), advertising a stay shorter than four weeks outside permitted resort housing is evidence of resort housing use ([Code Ch. 126](https://library.municode.com/fl/sanibel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH126ZO_ARTXIVSUDIRE_DIV7DWRE)). - In [Celebration](/celebration/), the community charter’s Rule 12 prohibits advertising short-term rentals where the charter does not authorize them ([Charter Exhibit C](https://celebration.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/Celebration-Charter-Exhibit-C-Rules-approved-CROA-Board-28-Aug-2024-Final.pdf)). ## What should every Florida listing show? Before a listing goes live, check it against this list: 1. Every number the city or county requires, exactly as issued, plus the DBPR license number where the local code asks for it. 2. A maximum guest count that matches the local certificate and the state occupancy rule; our [guest register and occupancy guide](/resources/florida-guest-register-and-occupancy-rules/) covers both. 3. Parking, minimum stay and any statement the local code requires. 4. Every fee beyond the nightly rate. 5. A property type and stay length the home is licensed and zoned for. ## How Florida Hosts helps We offer licensing and registration help with the DBPR license, local registration and tax accounts, so the numbers your city requires exist before your listing goes live. Our team handles guest communication 24/7, and our own cleaning and maintenance staff across Florida look after the home between stays. Short-term management is 18–25% of booking revenue, quoted in writing; browse [areas we serve](/areas-we-serve/) or ask for a [free rental projection](/rental-projection/) within one business day. This guide is general information and not legal or tax advice; confirm current advertising rules with DBPR, your city or county, or a professional. FH Written by the Florida Hosts team We're a vacation rental management company working across Florida. We manage 350+ homes, have earned 10,000+ guest reviews, and bring 10 years of hands-on hosting experience to every guide we publish. [More about Florida Hosts →](/about/) Questions about your specific property? Talk to a real person on our team — straight answers, no scripts. [Call (321) 321-2348](tel:+13213212348) [Get a free projection](/rental-projection/) Free projection · about a minute ## What could your property earn? Tell us about it and we'll build a free, comps-based projection — a real person, not an algorithm, back to you within one business day. Free, no obligation. Prefer to talk? [Call (321) 321-2348](tel:+13213212348) Common Questions ## Frequently Asked Questions Does Florida require my DBPR license number on my Airbnb listing? Not under Chapter 509 as it stands in the 2026 Florida Statutes; the only license-number advertising rule in section 509.241 covers catering. A 2024 bill, CS/SB 280, would have required advertising platforms to display license numbers, but the Governor vetoed it on June 27, 2024. Many cities and counties require local registration numbers, and some the DBPR number too. Can advertising a home make it need a vacation rental license? Yes. Under section 509.013(4)(a)1, a unit advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests for periods of less than 30 consecutive days is a transient public lodging establishment, even before it has been rented more than three times in a year. What does Miami Beach require in a short-term rental ad? City Code section 102-386 requires the city business tax receipt number and the resort tax certificate number to be conspicuously displayed in every advertisement or listing. Missing them creates a rebuttable presumption that the home is operating without registration, and fines start at $1,000. What must a Walton County vacation rental ad include? Walton County Ordinance 2023-03 requires all advertising to include the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate number and the tourist development tax registration number, and to match the certificate's maximum occupancy and parking. Do I have to disclose cleaning and other fees? DBPR Rule 61C-3.002 treats a charge separate from or in addition to the room rate as an unethical practice if it is not disclosed in writing to the guest at check-in. Listing all fees up front avoids the problem. Looking for more owner guides? [← Back to all resources](/resources/) [See our pricing](/pricing/) [Get my free projection](/rental-projection/) Related guides ## Keep reading [Hosting & Operations ### Florida Guest Register and Occupancy Rules for Rentals What Florida's guest register law (§509.101) requires, the other Chapter 509 duties a vacation rental carries, and how local occupancy limits are set. Read the guide →](/resources/florida-guest-register-and-occupancy-rules/) [Hosting & Operations ### Florida Vacation Rental Cleaning and Sanitation Rules What Florida's lodging statute, DBPR rules 61C-1 and 61C-3 and DBPR's vacation rental guide require for linens, dishes, kitchens and pests between guests. Read the guide →](/resources/vacation-rental-cleaning-and-sanitation-florida/) [Taxes ### Do Airbnb and Vrbo Collect Florida Rental Taxes? (2026) Which Florida taxes Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit, county by county, from their own help pages, and which taxes and filings stay with the owner. Read the guide →](/resources/airbnb-vrbo-tax-collection-florida/) ## See what your home could earn Get a free, no-obligation rental projection from people who actually manage homes in your neighborhood. [Get my free projection](/rental-projection/) [or call (321) 321-2348](tel:+13213212348) Free · comps-based · delivered within one business day.