Orlando vs Palm Springs: Short-Term Rental Rules Compared (2026)
Orlando is currently "primary residence only" while Palm Springs is "restricted". The bigger difference is eligibility: Orlando restricts rentals to the host's own residence, while Palm Springs permits dedicated rentals. On cost, Orlando is the cheaper market to license ($275 vs $1,046). Full verified details for both markets below — always confirm current requirements with each jurisdiction.
Side by side
| Rule | Orlando, FL | Palm Springs, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Primary residence only | Restricted |
| Permit required | Yes | Yes |
| Permit name | Home Sharing Registration | Vacation Rental Registration Certificate |
| Permit fee | $275 | $1,046 |
| Renewal | Annual | Annual |
| Primary residence only | Yes | No |
| Owner occupancy required | Yes | No |
| Night cap / year | None found | None found |
| Minimum stay | None found | None found |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~12.5% | ~12.5% |
| Last verified | July 10, 2026 | July 10, 2026 |
Compare guest tax loads
Switch between the two markets to see itemized occupancy taxes on the same stay.
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax) (6%)· usually collected by platform | $27.00 |
| Orange County Discretionary Sales Surtax (0.5%)· usually collected by platform | $2.25 |
| Orange County Tourist Development Tax (6%)· usually collected by platform | $27.00 |
| Total tax (12.5%) | $56.25 |
| Guest pays | $506.25 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Orlando, FL
Orlando only allows short-term rentals (under 30 days) as owner-occupied 'home sharing': the owner or a long-term tenant must live on-site and be present during every stay, only one booking at a time is allowed, and no more than half the bedrooms may be rented — renting out an entire home short-term is prohibited in residential zones (whole-unit 'Commercial Dwelling Units' are limited to O-3, MU and AC commercial districts). Hosts must obtain an annual Home Sharing Registration ($275 first year, $100-$125 renewals, with a yearly interior inspection), and guests pay roughly 12.5% in combined state and Orange County taxes, which Airbnb and Vrbo collect on platform bookings. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Orlandorules, playbook & sources →Palm Springs, CA
Short-term rentals (stays of 28 nights or less) are legal in Palm Springs only with a city Vacation Rental Registration Certificate ($1,046 per year as of December 1, 2025, plus a one-time $25 TOT permit), and each owner may hold just one certificate. The biggest restrictions are the annual contract caps — 26 rental contracts per calendar year for post-October 17, 2022 permittees (grandfathered 'existing permittees' keep 32 plus 4 third-quarter contracts after Ordinance 2118 cancelled a planned 2026 reduction) — and a 20% per-neighborhood certificate cap under which new applications are refused in neighborhoods at or above the limit. Rentals are limited to single-family dwellings (prohibited in apartments), and hosts remit 11.5% city TOT plus a 1% TBID monthly. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Palm Springsrules, playbook & sources →Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change frequently in both markets; verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating.