Miami Short-Term Rental Licensing & Compliance
Miami's booming short-term rental market offers healthy cash flow from year-round tourist traffic. However, participating requires proper state and local licensing. Navigating the complex federal and local laws can be challenging, but professional assistance is available to help you obtain all necessary documents.
Licensing Requirements Overview
To launch a short-term rental property in Miami, you must obtain:
Florida state DBPR license (dwelling or condominium)
Florida Department of Revenue registration
Miami-Dade Certificate of Use
Verification of permissible transect zone in Miami or Miami Beach
Certificate of Use if in the City of Miami
Resort Tax Registration Certificate if in the City of Miami Beach
Business Tax Receipt from the City of Miami or Miami Beach
Florida State Licensing
Florida offers different license types depending on your property. Vacation rental condo licenses apply to condominiums and cooperative real estate. Vacation rental dwelling licenses cover single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, and quadruplexes.
The Florida DBPR rental license costs $90 for six months or $170 for one year, plus a $50 application fee. Multiple units can be combined under a group license. Licenses expire on October 1st.
Miami-Dade County Requirements
Miami-Dade County has specific short-term rental rules that apply alongside state requirements.
Certificate of Use
The Miami-Dade County Certificate of Use costs $136.17, broken down as:
Certificate: $36.70
Inspection: $89.97
Surcharge: $9.50
Within 10 days of submitting your application and payment, you'll schedule an inspection. You must provide all licenses, records, and documentation confirming compliance with Florida state and Miami-Dade County requirements. To reschedule an inspection, call Miami-Dade County's Zoning Permits Section at (786) 315–2660.
Upon successful inspection, you'll receive an official certificate to display at the rental property. The certificate number must be visibly available to potential clients. The Certificate of Use is valid for one year and can be renewed annually if all requirements are met and there are no outstanding fines or liens for code violations.
Condominium and HOA Authorization: If your unit is part of a condominium or homeowners' association, you must obtain written authorization for short-term rental.
Low-Density Residential Areas: Properties in low-density residential zones (estates) have additional requirements. The responsible party or host must reside in the property for more than six months in the current calendar year. You can verify low-density zone status on the CDMP Land Use Plan Map.
Guest Registry: You must maintain a registry with the names and stay dates of all guests. This registry must be available for inspection by Miami-Dade County authorities.
Pool Safety Requirements: Short-term rental units with pools must meet four safety functions to accommodate families with children under 6 years old:
Pool safety barrier
Pool safety cover
Pool alarm
Door latch/alarm
Access for children under 6 must be restricted if the pool does not meet these requirements. This rule does not apply to shared pools in condominiums with universal access for all residents.
City of Miami Requirements
The City of Miami distinguishes short-term rentals through a land use category called "Apartment Hotel," separate from lodging and residential use.
Zoning and Land Use
Short-term rental is allowed only in specific transect zones. You can view Miami's transect zones and permitted land use on the official Miami zoning map. To use the map: click 'Tools' in the upper right corner, select 'Layers,' and turn on the ZoningMiami21 layer. Zoom in to see transect zone labels, click on your unit, and select the 'Land Use' tab.
Miami lodging allowance by zones:
Allowed by warrant: T4-R, T6-L, T6-O, CI-HD, D1
Allowed by right: T4-L, T4-O, T5-L, T5-O
Allowed by exception: T5-R, T6-R
Changing Land Use Designation
If your property is in an allowed zone but its current land use is residential, you can submit a form to the Miami Building Department to change the designation. You'll need floor and site plans approved by a Florida-licensed architect, engineer, or general contractor. The building must comply with all lodging and fire codes.
For properties in allowed zones with residential land use, obtain a Certificate of Use and Business Tax Receipt from the City of Miami. You'll need a Certificate of Occupancy from the Building Department confirming residential land use permission.
Contact Information
For short-term rental permit questions, contact:
Miami Zoning Department: (305) 416-1499
Miami-Dade County: (311)
Miami Building and Zoning Department (in person): 444 SW 2nd Ave., Miami, Florida 33130
City of Miami Beach Requirements
Operating in Miami Beach requires a business tax receipt and resort tax registration certificate. Register on the city's website to access the resort tax registration form.
Pre-Application Checklist
Before applying for a business tax receipt, verify:
Building eligibility for short-term rental with Miami Beach Zoning Department: (305) 673-7550
Need for a building permit with change of use at Miami Beach Building Department: (305) 673-7000 ext. 6675
Validity of your business license
Compliance with regulations at:
Fire Prevention Division: (305) 673-7123
Code Compliance Department: (305) 673-7555
Building Department: (305) 673-7610 ext. 2555, 6382, or 6045
Non-compliance will suspend your tax declaration application.
Costs and Application
The business tax receipt and resort tax registration costs $196.50, including:
License: $69.00
Fire fee: $57.50
Application fee: $45.00
Resort Tax Application fee: $25.00
Submit applications online or in person at the City of Miami Beach Finance Department, 1755 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33138. After initial review and approval and passing fire inspection, the application returns to the Finance Department for final review.
The penalty for operating without a Miami Beach tax receipt is $20,000 for the first offense, increasing by $20,000 for each subsequent offense.
Miami Beach Zoning Restrictions
Strict zoning requirements apply in Miami Beach. Short-term rental of apartments or townhouses is prohibited in RM-1, RM-PRD, RM-PRD-2, RPS-1, RPS-2, CD-1, RO, R0–3, and TH districts with few exceptions. Most of these are single-family residential areas. Check the official Miami Beach Planning Department zoning map to verify rental availability.
North Beach
In North Beach, short-term rental is limited but permitted under specific conditions:
Bookings allowed only for entire houses
Minimum seven-night stays required
Subject to resort tax
$1,000 application fee
Getting Professional Help
The Florida short-term rental market involves complex, evolving legislation and extensive paperwork. Professional assistance can streamline the process of obtaining all necessary licenses and permits. Service costs typically include a $1,000 document processing fee plus applicable state, county, and city fees.
