| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Restricted — rules apply |
| Permit / License Required | Yes — City Home Sharing Registration/STR permit, plus a state DBPR Vacation Rental License and (for some categories) a Business Tax Receipt. |
| Tax Rate | Approx. 12.5% combined: 6% FL state sales tax + 0.5% Orange County discretionary surtax + 6% Orange County Tourist Development Tax (sources cite 12–14 |
| Night / Day Cap | Unknown (no explicit annual night cap; limited instead by owner-occupancy and one-booking-at-a-time rule). |
| Minimum Stay | STR defined as rental of less than 30 days. |
| Permit Fee | Initial city permit $275 (first year); annual renewal reported at $100–$125 (renewal requires interior inspection). State DBPR vacation rental license |
| Penalties | Fines for unregistered listings/non-compliance (specific amounts not clearly sourced); state may penalize unregistered listings. |
| Primary Residence Required | Yes for home-sharing — host must live on-site and be present during stays; property must be occupied by owner/long-term tenant at least 51% of the yea |
| Occupancy Limit | Home-sharing: only one booking at a time, no more than four guests total, and no more than 50% of bedrooms rented. |
Short-term rentals in Orlando, Florida are allowed but subject to significant restrictions under local regulations as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes — City Home Sharing Registration/STR permit, plus a state DBPR Vacation Rental License and (for some categories) a Business Tax Receipt.. The associated permit fees are Initial city permit $275 (first year); annual renewal reported at $100–$125 (renewal requires interi.
Short-term rental operators in Orlando should be aware of these tax obligations: Approx. 12.5% combined: 6% FL state sales tax + 0.5% Orange County discretionary surtax + 6% Orange County Tourist Development Tax (sources cite 12–14.5% depending on county).. Yes — register with Florida Dept. of Revenue and Orange County for sales/tourist development taxes..
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Orlando include: Primary residence requirement: Yes for home-sharing — host must live on-site and be present during stays; property must be occupied by owner/long-term . Rental day cap: Unknown (no explicit annual night cap; limited instead by owner-occupancy and one-booking-at-a-time rule).. Occupancy limit: Home-sharing: only one booking at a time, no more than four guests total, and no more than 50% of bedrooms rented.. Minimum stay: STR defined as rental of less than 30 days..
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Orlando: All residential (R) zoning districts allow only home-sharing arrangements; whole-home/entire-home lodging requires separate approvals in appropriate zones. HOA written permission may be needed.. Density rules: Unknown (no explicit density/cap rule identified for Orlando).. Insurance: Unknown (safety compliance required; specific insurance minimum not clearly sourced for Orlando city.
Hosts who fail to comply with Orlando's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Fines for unregistered listings/non-compliance (specific amounts not clearly sourced); state may penalize unregistered listings..
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Orlando: Under 2025 Florida changes, advertising platforms must collect/remit state and applicable local taxes; hosts still often responsible for remittance/registration. Listing must display registration..
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Orlando but subject to restrictions. Hosts must comply with local permit requirements and zoning rules. Property must pass code enforcement inspection (smoke detectors, CO alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency exit plans). City transitioned from a full STR ban (pre-2018) to two permitted categories (own
Yes. Orlando requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes — City Home Sharing Registration/STR permit, plus a state DBPR Vacation Rental License and (for some categories) a Business Tax Receipt..
Short-term rental hosts in Orlando are subject to the following tax obligations: Approx. 12.5% combined: 6% FL state sales tax + 0.5% Orange County discretionary surtax + 6% Orange County Tourist Development Tax (sources cite 12–14.5% depending on county)..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Orlando may face enforcement. Fines for unregistered listings/non-compliance (specific amounts not clearly sourced); state may penalize unregistered listings..
One of Florida's most restrictive STR markets — effectively limits investor/whole-home rentals; many investors use Osceola/Polk counties instead.
LawfulStay tracks STR regulations across 1,026+ cities & countries on 6 continents, updated daily.
View in Full Database →