Fort Lauderdale's Short Term Vacation Rental Licensing Explained
Fort Lauderdale, Florida is a very popular tourist destination with its beautiful beaches and lovely outdoor activities for the whole family. With the increasing rise in hotel costs, vacation rentals have become a great alternative that provide amenities that hotels cannot offer. In 2015, the City of Fort Lauderdale set out to create safer environment for those staying in vacation rentals in residential areas of in Ft. Lauderdale. The ordinance that passed, lists the various safety requirements and mandates that all vacation rental owners and managers must comply with. All vacation home owners must register with the Florida Department of Revenue and Broward County in order operate safely, obtain a license to rent out their homes on a short-term basis and pay the occupancy tourist tax of 13%.
At Smart Move Accommodations, we require that every client who wishes to rent their home or apartment out on a weekly or monthly basis, obtains a vacation rental license. We are here to guide our clients through the licensing process and answer any questions they may have. Our focus is to ensure that every property we rent out on a short-term basis is safe for guests and abides by all the rules listed by the City.
A quick overview of the checklist of safety requirements mandated in the vacation rental license.
- Hard wired smoke detectors
- Landline phone
- Fire extinguisher(s)
- Pool fence and alarms
Below are some helpful links to give any property owner a clear understanding of what is required in getting licensed with the City of Ft. Lauderdale.
Brief Overview of the City Requirements and Steps in obtaining a license. Click here to view the Fort Lauderdale City Requirements
Vacation Rental Licensing Checklist per the City of Fort Lauderdale. Click here to view the Vacation Licensing Checklist
It is important to note that Smart Move is registered with the State of Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulations, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, and our short-term rentals operate under a Hotel License. This License gives us the authority of immediate tenant eviction for non-payment of rent and misbehavior. It also ensures that we maintain higher standards of accommodation.
Please reach out to us via [email protected] and let us know if you're interested in listing your vacation rental with us and obtaining a license to operate in Fort Lauderdale.
Short Term Vacation Rentals: City of Fort Lauderdale Ordinances
The following information is required by the City of Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rental Ordinance - Ord. No. C-16-25
Any sound shall not be plainly audible for a period of one (1) minute or longer at a distance of twenty-five (25) feet or more when measured from the source property line between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. daily and at a distance of fifty (50) feet or more when measured from the source property line between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily.
Garbage and recyclables shall be placed in the receptacles next to the sidewalk at the back end of the building. Garbage is collected on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please only use the black cans/receptables for trash. Blue receptacles are for recycling only.
It is unlawful for any property owner or designated representative to allow another person to occupy any residential property as a Vacation Rental within the City of Fort Lauderdale, as a Transient Occupant if such property owner or designated representative knew or should have known that the vacation rental will be occupied by a person prohibited from establishing a permanent residence or temporary residence at said residential property pursuant to, if such place, structure, or part thereof, trailer or other conveyance, is located within one thousand four hundred (1,400) feet of any school, designated public school bus stop, child day care facility, park or playground or other place where children regularly congregate as described in Article VI, Chapter 16 of the Code of Ordinances.
All vehicles must be parked in compliance with Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Lauderdale, including parking vehicles off-street.