--- title: "How to Get a Florida Vacation Rental License (DBPR)" description: "Who needs a DBPR vacation rental license in Florida, condo vs dwelling license types, how to apply online, the published fees, inspections and renewal." url: https://floridahosts.com/resources/florida-vacation-rental-license/ --- ![A house key on a house-shaped keyring handed over at the start of a lease](/images/long-term-rental-management-keys.webp) Rules & Licensing # How to Get a Florida Vacation Rental License (DBPR) Who needs a DBPR vacation rental license in Florida, condo vs dwelling license types, how to apply online, the published fees, inspections and renewal. 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 · Rules & Licensing Florida requires a vacation rental license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants, for any condo unit or one- to four-family home rented to guests more than three times a year for stays of less than 30 days, or advertised that way. You apply online, pay a fee set by rule (one unit is $170 a year plus a one-time $50 application fee), and renew every year on your county’s district date. The license must be in hand before the first guest arrives. ## Who needs a vacation rental license? The test comes from the definition of a transient public lodging establishment in [§509.013(4)(a)1, Florida Statutes](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.013.html): a unit or dwelling “rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 consecutive days,” or advertised or held out as regularly rented for less than 30 consecutive days. A vacation rental, under [§509.242(1)(c)](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.242.html), is a unit in a condominium or cooperative, or a single-family to four-family house or dwelling unit, that meets that test and is not a timeshare. Advertising counts on its own. Because the definition covers a home held out to the public as regularly rented for stays under 30 days, a listing that offers nightly or weekly stays can bring a home under the rule before it reaches a fourth booking. [§509.241(1)](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.241.html) requires every public lodging establishment to hold a DBPR license and makes operating without one a second-degree misdemeanor. Subsection (2) says the license must be received before operation begins. ## Who does not need one? [§509.013(4)(b)4](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.013.html) excludes condo units and one- to four-family homes rented for at least 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, that are not advertised for shorter stays, as long as no more than four rental units in a single complex are available. That is the mid-term and long-term lane. DBPR’s [Guide to Vacation Rentals and Timeshare Projects](https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/vrtsp-guide/) also says that renting a single room or rooms, rather than the whole unit, is not public lodging and needs no license from the division. It adds that the city or county may still regulate it. ## Condo or dwelling: which license type? DBPR issues two vacation rental license types, defined in [Rule 61C-1.002, Florida Administrative Code](https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=61C-1.002): License type What it covers Vacation Rental – Condominium A unit or group of units in a condominium or cooperative Vacation Rental – Dwelling A single-family house, a townhouse, or a unit or group of units in a duplex, triplex, quadruplex or other dwelling of four or fewer units The same rule sets three license classes. A single license goes to an owner (not a management company) for one house or townhouse, or units in one building with the same owner. A group license goes to a licensed agent for units in one building or complex. A collective license goes to a licensed agent for houses or units at separate locations, up to 75 per license, all in counties within one DBPR district. A “licensed agent” here means a management company the owner has authorized by contract to rent the property on a transient basis. DBPR’s guide notes it does not mean a real estate license. ## How do you apply on myfloridalicense.com? DBPR says the fastest route is online through a DBPR online services account, which [§509.241(4)](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.241.html) requires every applicant and licensee to keep, along with an email address for official contact. The paper version is form [DBPR HR-7028](https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hr/forms/documents/application_packet_for_vacation_rental_license.pdf), Application for Vacation Rental or Timeshare Project License. The HR-7028 packet lists what to have ready: - A Florida sales tax number from the Department of Revenue, or proof of exemption - A federal employer identification number for a business owner, and a Social Security number or ITIN - The street address of every rental unit to be licensed, entered in your online account - Form HR-7020, Certificate of Balcony Inspection, where the building is three stories or more - The license fee and the $50 application fee DBPR states that online applications are usually processed in one to two business days and the digital license is emailed after approval. Rule 61C-1.002 says no opening inspection is required for vacation rentals. ## What does the license cost? Fees come from [§509.251](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.251.html) and the schedule in [Rule 61C-1.008](https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=61C-1.008), which DBPR republishes on its [lodging fees page](https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/lodging-fees/). Totals below include the $10 Hospitality Education Program fee. Single or group license Full year Half year 1 rental unit $170 $90 2–25 units $180 $95 26–50 units $195 $102.50 51–100 units $210 $110 A collective license costs $150 plus $10 per unit plus the $10 education fee. Every new or change-of-ownership application adds a one-time $50 application fee, and a renewal filed after expiration adds a $50 delinquent fee. The half-year fee applies when you apply six months or less before your district’s renewal date. DBPR’s guide warns that applying just before renewal can mean paying twice within weeks, so time a new application with that in mind. ## When do you renew? Licenses renew every year under §509.241(1). Rule 61C-1.002 sets the renewal date by DBPR district, and DBPR’s guide lists when the half-year fee starts: District Counties include Renewal Half-year fee from 1 Miami-Dade, Monroe October 1 April 1 2 Broward, Martin, Palm Beach December 1 June 1 3 Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco February 1 August 1 4 Orange, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, Volusia, Seminole April 1 October 1 5 Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Alachua, Marion June 1 December 1 6 Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Gulf, Leon June 1 December 1 7 Lee, Collier, Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte December 1 June 1 The full county list for each district is in the rule. Address changes matter too: §509.241(4)(b) requires a vacation rental licensee to report any change in unit addresses or the number of units within 30 days, through the online account. ## Will DBPR inspect a vacation rental? [§509.032(2)(a)](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599%2F0509%2FSections%2F0509.032.html) exempts vacation rentals from the routine twice-a-year inspection schedule that applies to hotels, but they must be made available to DBPR on request. Rule 61C-1.002 requires the licensee to meet the inspector at the property with keys when asked. Our [vacation rental safety guide](/resources/florida-vacation-rental-safety-requirements/) covers what an inspector looks at. ## What else do you need besides the DBPR license? The DBPR license is the state layer. Many Florida cities and counties add a registration, permit or business tax receipt, and some limit where short stays are allowed at all. Our [city-by-city rules guide](/resources/florida-short-term-rental-rules-by-city/) summarizes the local rules for each market we serve, and the [local business tax guide](/resources/florida-local-business-tax-receipt/) covers county and city receipts. Condo and HOA documents can add their own limits on top. ## How Florida Hosts helps Licensing and registration help is part of how we onboard a home: the DBPR license, the local registration and the tax accounts, set up before the first booking. After that, our own cleaning and maintenance staff across Florida keep the home guest-ready, and guests get 24/7 communication. Short-term management is 18–25% of booking revenue, quoted in writing, and you can request a free [rental projection](/rental-projection/) within one business day. Mid-term and long-term rentals are managed with licensed brokers for the leasing. See [pricing](/pricing/) and [services](/services/) for details. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice; confirm current requirements with DBPR, your local government or a Florida attorney before you rent. 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 Do I need a DBPR license if I only rent my Florida home for 30 days or more? Usually not. Florida law excludes condo units and one- to four-family homes rented for at least 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, if they are not advertised for shorter stays and no more than four rental units in one complex are available. Advertise or rent for shorter stays and you fall back into the licensing requirement. Do I need a license to rent a single room in my house? DBPR's vacation rental guide says renting a single room or rooms, rather than the whole unit, is not classified as public lodging and does not need a license from its Division of Hotels and Restaurants. The same guide warns that the city or county may still regulate it. How much does a Florida vacation rental license cost? For a single license covering one unit, Rule 61C-1.008 sets a $170 full-year fee, which includes the $10 Hospitality Education Program fee. A new application also pays a one-time $50 application fee. If you apply six months or less before your district's renewal date, the half-year fee of $90 applies instead. How long does DBPR take to issue a vacation rental license? DBPR says online applications are usually processed in one to two business days and the digital license is emailed right after approval. Paper applications by mail take longer. No opening inspection is required for vacation rentals. Does the license transfer when I sell the property? No. Section 509.241(1) says a license may not be transferred from one place or individual to another. A buyer who keeps renting the home short term applies as a change of ownership, which carries the $50 application fee again. Is the DBPR license all I need to rent legally? No. It is the state layer only. Your city or county may require its own registration, business tax receipt or permit, your condo or HOA documents may restrict rentals, and you also collect and file state and county taxes on each stay. Looking for more owner guides? [← Back to all resources](/resources/) [See our pricing](/pricing/) [Get my free projection](/rental-projection/) Related guides ## Keep reading [Rules & Licensing ### Florida Condo Rental Restrictions for Short-Term Rentals How Florida condo declarations limit rentals, why §718.110(13) protects owners who did not vote for a new rental ban, lease approval, fees and fines. Read the guide →](/resources/florida-condo-rental-restrictions/) [Rules & Licensing ### Florida HOA Rental Restrictions: What Chapter 720 Allows How Florida HOA covenants can limit short-term rentals under §720.306(1)(h), which owners a new rental amendment binds, and the fines that apply. Read the guide →](/resources/florida-hoa-rental-restrictions/) [Rules & Licensing ### Florida Local Business Tax Receipts for Rental Properties How Florida county and city business tax receipts work for vacation rentals under Chapter 205: the September 30 deadline, penalties and county examples. Read the guide →](/resources/florida-local-business-tax-receipt/) ## 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.