Orlando Vacation Homes » Host Hub Blog » Laws, Taxes & Regulations

Orlando Vacation Rental Laws, Taxes & Regulations

  Start Here

The overview of short-term rental (STR) laws around Orlando: where rentals are allowed, the state license, taxes and HOA rules.

• Orlando Short-Term Rental Laws: What Vacation Home Buyers Need to Know
  Zoning, the Florida vacation rental license, tax rates by county and an eight-step setup list.

  County Rules

Zoning, tax accounts and local rules change at every county line, so read the guide for the county your home is in.

• Orange County and City of Orlando Short-Term Rental Rules
  Where rentals are allowed in Orange County, why the City of Orlando is different, and Orange's tourist tax.
• Osceola County Short-Term Rental Rules for Vacation Home Owners
  The county's STR zoning, how to check a parcel, and why owners file Osceola's tourist tax themselves.
• Polk County Short-Term Rental Rules for Vacation Home Owners
  The Champions Gate and US 27 resorts in Polk, the business tax receipt and Polk's taxes on each stay.

  Tax on Each Stay by County

For stays of six months or less: the 6% state tax, the county surtax and the county tourist development tax. Rates change; see the taxes guide and confirm with the county before you file.

  Taxes

Rental taxes on every stay, plus the property, furniture and income taxes owners pay.

• Taxes on an Orlando Vacation Rental Home: What Owners Collect, Pay and File
  Who collects and files each tax, property tax without a homestead exemption, and the tax on furnishings.

  Owning Within the Rules

The rules that apply once the home is renting – from the HOA and the insurer to guests and neighbors.

• HOA and Condo Rules for Short-Term Rentals in Orlando Resorts
  What associations can restrict and what to check in the documents before you buy.
• Insurance for an Orlando Vacation Rental Home: What Owners Need
  Why a standard homeowners policy may not fit, plus liability, flood and condo coverage.
• Safety Rules for Orlando Vacation Rentals: Smoke Alarms, Carbon Monoxide, Pools and Inspections
  The state's safety requirements, carbon monoxide and pool rules, and how inspections work.
• Noise Rules for Orlando Vacation Rentals: What Owners Need to Know
  County noise ordinances, guest removal under Florida law and how to prevent complaints.
• Security Deposits and Damage Protection for Orlando Vacation Rentals
  How deposits and damage protection work on Airbnb, Vrbo and direct bookings.
• Does the Fair Housing Act Apply to Vacation Rentals? What Orlando Owners Need to Know
  The anti-discrimination laws that do apply to vacation rentals, and service animal rules.

  Buying a Vacation Home Near Orlando?

The rules are easier to work with when you know them before you buy. See our buyer's guide and our guide to choosing an Orlando resort, or Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286.

David Myers is a licensed Florida real estate broker, working as a broker associate with Ziro Realty, and is not an attorney or tax professional. These guides are general information, not legal or tax advice. Laws and local rules change; confirm current requirements with the county, the DBPR and a Florida attorney or tax professional.