STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in Davenport, FL (2026)

Permit requiredAllowed with permit

The City of Davenport is one of Florida's most STR-friendly cities: its land development code permits short-term rentals (vacation rentals) in every residential zoning district and imposes no city-specific STR permit, cap, or minimum stay, deferring entirely to state law. Operators must still hold a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental license (about $220 first year for a single dwelling), obtain a Polk County Class B Local Business Tax Receipt, and register for Polk County's 5% Tourist Development Tax on top of 7% sales tax (12% combined lodging tax).

✓ Last verified July 21, 2026 · 12 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 12 official sources. How we verify data

Davenport STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for Davenport
Legal statusAllowed with permit
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameVacation Rental – Dwelling License (Florida DBPR); no city-level STR permit exists
Permit fee$220
RenewalAnnual
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Total occupancy taxes~12% of gross revenue
EnforcementThe city itself has essentially nothing STR-specific to enforce beyond its general Business Tax Receipt and nuisance/code-enforcement rules (Code Enforcement sits under Building & Planning).
Current rules effective2026-03-02

What will guests pay in taxes on a Davenport stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for Davenport, FL — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

Davenport occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
Florida state sales tax (transient rental tax) (6%)· usually collected by platform$27.00
Polk County discretionary sales surtax (1%)· usually collected by platform$4.50
Polk County Tourist Development Tax (5%)· collection varies$22.50
Total tax (12%)$54.00
Guest pays$504.00

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

Davenport requires Vacation Rental – Dwelling License (Florida DBPR); no city-level STR permit exists to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $220, renewed annually.

No City of Davenport STR permit or fee exists. The required permit is the state DBPR Vacation Rental license: $50 application fee + $170 full-year license fee for a single-unit dwelling (fee schedule also lists a $90 half-year option and a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee that is not prorated) ≈ $220 first year, then annual renewal. Group and collective license fees scale with unit count. Separately, Polk County requires a Class B county Local Business Tax Receipt for each short-term rental location (county fee not verified), and the City of Davenport requires a general city Business Tax Receipt for businesses operating inside city limits (amount not published online).

Zoning & location rules

Table 3.07.00(A) of Davenport's Unified Land Development Regulations lists 'Short Term Rentals (Vacation Rentals)' as PC (Permitted with Conditions) in every residential zoning district — AG, TN-1, TN-2, RE-1, RE-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, MF, MH-1, and MH-2. The only 'condition' is Section 4.03.19, which states in full that short-term rental units are allowed per State of Florida statutes. In practice STRs are allowed by right citywide, subject to state licensing; no overlay districts or STR-specific zoning restrictions exist. HOA/deed restrictions in Davenport's many resort communities can be stricter than city zoning.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
Florida state sales tax (transient rental tax)Applies to rentals of six months or less; reported to the Florida Department of Revenue. Airbnb collects and remits 6% statewide for reservations 182 nights and shorter; hosts taking direct bookings must register with FL DOR and remit themselves.6%platform
Polk County discretionary sales surtaxPolk County's 1% surtax (in effect Jan 1, 2004 – Dec 31, 2033 per DR-15DSS) applies to transient rentals and is remitted to FL DOR with state sales tax. Airbnb collects the surtax on platform bookings; direct-booking hosts remit it themselves.1%platform
Polk County Tourist Development Tax5% on accommodations rented for six months or less; self-administered by the Polk County Tax Collector, remitted monthly (delinquent after the 20th). Airbnb collects and remits it for platform bookings (per Airbnb's Florida tax page); the Tax Collector states only Airbnb and HomeAway/Vrbo have remittance agreements. All owners/managers must still open a TDT account regardless of platform, and must remit directly for other booking channels.5%varies

Enforcement & penalties

The city itself has essentially nothing STR-specific to enforce beyond its general Business Tax Receipt and nuisance/code-enforcement rules (Code Enforcement sits under Building & Planning). Practical enforcement happens at the county and state level: the Polk County Tax Collector requires a TDT account and Class B Local Business Tax Receipt per rental location and pursues delinquent tourist tax monthly, and DBPR can inspect and discipline licensed vacation rentals. State law (F.S. 509.032(7)(b)) preempts Davenport from banning STRs or regulating duration/frequency of stays.

No Davenport-specific STR fine schedule exists. Operating a vacation rental without the required state license exposes the operator to DBPR discipline under F.S. 509.261: administrative fines not to exceed $1,000 per offense, plus suspension (up to 12 months) or revocation of the license. Polk County TDT payments become delinquent if not paid by the 20th of the month following collection, triggering county penalties and interest.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in Davenport: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: 00(A) of Davenport's Unified Land Development Regulations lists 'Short Term Rentals (Vacation Rentals)' as PC (Permitted with Conditions) in every residential zoning district — AG, TN-1, TN-2, RE-1, RE-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, MF, MH-1, and MH-2. 19, which states in full that short-term rental units are allowed per State of Florida statutes. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  3. 3

    Apply for the Vacation Rental – Dwelling License (Florida DBPR); no city-level STR permit exists

    Budget $220, renewed annually. No City of Davenport STR permit or fee exists. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: Polk County Tourist Development Tax (5%) is remitted by the host in at least some cases. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  5. 5

    Calendar the renewal before you forget it

    This permit renews annually (budget $220 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.

  6. 6

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    No Davenport-specific STR fine schedule exists. S. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.

Recent rule changes in Davenport

  1. March 2, 2026

    Unified Land Development Regulations updated via Ordinance 1396

    Davenport republished its ULDR (current edition dated March 2, 2026). The short-term rental provision, Section 4.03.19, remains a single sentence deferring to Florida statutes, and Table 3.07.00(A) continues to permit 'Short Term Rentals (Vacation Rentals)' with conditions (PC) in all residential zoning districts. No new city-level STR restrictions were introduced.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in Davenport?

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Davenport, FL, but you must obtain a Vacation Rental – Dwelling License (Florida DBPR); no city-level STR permit exists before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Davenport?

Yes. Davenport requires a Vacation Rental – Dwelling License (Florida DBPR); no city-level STR permit exists to operate a short-term rental, which costs $220 and must be renewed annually. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a Davenport short-term rental permit cost?

The Vacation Rental – Dwelling License (Florida DBPR); no city-level STR permit exists costs $220 (annual renewal). No City of Davenport STR permit or fee exists. The required permit is the state DBPR Vacation Rental license: $50 application fee + $170 full-year license fee for a single-unit dwelling (fee schedule also lists a $90 half-year option and a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee that is not prorated) ≈ $220 first year, then annual renewal. Group and collective license fees scale with unit count. Separately, Polk County requires a Class B county Local Business Tax Receipt for each short-term rental location (county fee not verified), and the City of Davenport requires a general city Business Tax Receipt for businesses operating inside city limits (amount not published online).

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Davenport?

Yes — Davenport does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Davenport?

Hosts in Davenport are subject to: Florida state sales tax (transient rental tax) (6%), Polk County discretionary sales surtax (1%), Polk County Tourist Development Tax (5%) — roughly 12% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Davenport?

Yes — the listed taxes (Florida state sales tax (transient rental tax), Polk County discretionary sales surtax) are collected and remitted by the platform in Davenport. Confirm in your platform tax settings, since collection agreements change.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Davenport?

No Davenport-specific STR fine schedule exists. S. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.

›When did Davenport's current short-term rental rules take effect?

The current ordinance took effect on March 2, 2026. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.

Davenport's STR rules changed 1 time recently.

Get an email the moment Davenport changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Davenport and a qualified professional before operating.

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