Short-Term Rental Rules in Orlando–Kissimmee, FL (2026)
The Orlando theme-park corridor splits sharply on short-term rentals: the City of Orlando restricts them to owner-occupied home sharing, while Kissimmee and unincorporated Osceola County host tens of thousands of dedicated vacation homes under more permissive zoning — making jurisdiction choice the single biggest compliance decision in this market.
Compare the Orlando–Kissimmee jurisdictions
| Permit | Status | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando, FL | Home Sharing Registration | $275 | annual | Primary residence only |
| Kissimmee, FL | Short-Term Rental Business Tax Receipt (plus Conditional Use approval where required by zoning) | $50 | annual | Restricted |
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, taxes & sources →Kissimmee restricts short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) to properties inside its Short-Term Rental Overlay (STRO) district that either sit in a planned development (SRPUD/MUPUD) approved for short-term rental use or obtain conditional-use approval in an eligible residential zone (RA-4, RB-1, RB-2, RC-1, RC-2); sub-30-day rentals elsewhere in residential districts are prohibited unless grandfathered. Operators must hold a Florida DBPR vacation-rental license and an annual city Short-Term Rental Business Tax Receipt ($50 per unit, expiring each September 30), and must self-remit Osceola County's 6% Tourist Development Tax because the county has no collection agreements with Airbnb or Vrbo. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Kissimmeerules, taxes & sources →Informational only — not legal advice. Boundaries matter in this market: confirm which jurisdiction a specific parcel falls in before relying on any rule here, and verify current requirements with that jurisdiction.