Short-Term Rental Laws in Jacksonville, FL (2026)
The City of Jacksonville has no municipal short-term-rental ordinance, permit, or STR-specific zoning restriction — STRs are governed by Florida state law, which requires a DBPR Vacation Rental License for whole-unit rentals and preempts local bans. Hosts must register with the Duval County Tax Collector and remit the 6% Convention/Tourist Development Tax themselves (no platform collects it here), on top of the 7.5% state sales tax that Airbnb/Vrbo collect on platform bookings. A local STR ordinance and platform tax-collection agreements were actively under development by the Mayor's Office as of February 2026.
Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 9 official sources. How we verify data
Jacksonville STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Vacation Rental License (Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants — state license; the City of Jacksonville has no municipal STR permit) |
| Permit fee | $170 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~13.5% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | No dedicated city STR enforcement program exists because there is no city STR ordinance. |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Jacksonville stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Jacksonville, FL — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Jacksonville occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Florida state sales and use tax (transient rental tax + Duval County discretionary sales surtax) (7.5%)· collection varies | $33.75 |
| Duval County Convention/Tourist Development Tax (TDT) (6%)· host remits | $27.00 |
| Total tax (13.5%) | $60.75 |
| Guest pays | $510.75 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Jacksonville requires Vacation Rental License (Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants — state license; the City of Jacksonville has no municipal STR permit) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $170, renewed annually.
State DBPR fee, not a city fee: full-year single license $170 (half-year $90), plus a $50 application fee for new licenses or change of ownership; a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee applies and is not prorated. Group and collective license fees scale by number of units. The DBPR license is only required for whole-unit rentals rented more than three times a year for stays under 30 days (or advertised as regularly rented); renting a single room in an occupied home is exempt from DBPR licensing. The City of Jacksonville itself charges no STR permit fee.
Zoning & location rules
Jacksonville's Zoning Code (Ordinance Code Ch. 656) contains no short-term-rental-specific use category or restriction, so STRs operate in residential zones citywide. A City Council Short-Term Vacation Rentals Special Committee (terminated in 2019) studied zoning and registration but no ordinance was adopted. Because Jacksonville has no pre-June-2011 vacation-rental ordinance, F.S. 509.032(7)(b) preempts the city from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating their duration or frequency. A local STR ordinance was in development by the Mayor's Office as of February 2026 but nothing has been adopted.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Florida state sales and use tax (transient rental tax + Duval County discretionary sales surtax)7.5% total remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue (6% state transient rental tax plus Duval County discretionary sales surtax). Airbnb collects and remits the state transient rental tax and discretionary surtax for platform bookings statewide; hosts taking direct bookings must register with the Florida DOR and remit themselves. | 7.5% | varies |
| Duval County Convention/Tourist Development Tax (TDT)6% = 4% Tourist Development Tax (F.S. 212.03) + 2% Convention Development Tax (F.S. 212.0305), remitted monthly to the Duval County Tax Collector. Duval County has NO collection agreement with any platform — the owner must register, collect, and remit even for Airbnb/Vrbo bookings. Monthly returns are mandatory even with zero tax collected. In December 2025 the TDC voted to pursue Voluntary Collection Agreements with STR platforms; none was in place as of February 2026. | 6% | host |
Enforcement & penalties
No dedicated city STR enforcement program exists because there is no city STR ordinance. The Duval County Tax Collector enforces TDT registration and monthly remittance (returns due the 1st, delinquent after the 20th), and DBPR enforces state vacation-rental licensing. As of February 2026 the Mayor's Office was coordinating with the fire department on safety inspections as part of developing a local STR ordinance.
No city STR-specific fines (no ordinance). Delinquent Duval County TDT accrues a penalty of 10% per month on unpaid taxes, capped at 50%, with a minimum penalty of $50; operating an unlicensed vacation rental is a violation of Florida's public lodging law enforced by DBPR.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Getting legal in Jacksonville: the playbook
Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.
- 1
Verify your zoning
Location rules apply: Jacksonville's Zoning Code (Ordinance Code Ch. 656) contains no short-term-rental-specific use category or restriction, so STRs operate in residential zones citywide. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.
- 2
Check the covenant layer
HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
- 3
Apply for the Vacation Rental License (Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants — state license; the City of Jacksonville has no municipal STR permit)
Budget $170, renewed annually. State DBPR fee, not a city fee: full-year single license $170 (half-year $90), plus a $50 application fee for new licenses or change of ownership; a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee applies and is not prorated. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.
- 4
Set up tax collection & remittance
Platforms don't collect everything here: Florida state sales and use tax (transient rental tax + Duval County discretionary sales surtax) (7.5%), Duval County Convention/Tourist Development Tax (TDT) (6%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.
- 5
Calendar the renewal before you forget it
This permit renews annually (budget $170 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
Know the cost of getting it wrong
No city STR-specific fines (no ordinance). Delinquent Duval County TDT accrues a penalty of 10% per month on unpaid taxes, capped at 50%, with a minimum penalty of $50; operating an unlicensed vacation rental is a violation of Florida's public lodging law enforced by DBPR. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.
Recent rule changes in Jacksonville
February 12, 2026material
Mayor's Office developing local STR ordinance and fire-safety inspection program
At the February 12, 2026 Duval County TDC meeting, the Administration reported it is 'developing a local short-term rental ordinance, and coordinating with the fire department for safety inspections,' with continuing ordinance development listed as a next step. No ordinance has been adopted yet — this would be Jacksonville's first municipal STR regulation.
Official source →December 11, 2025material
TDC votes to pursue Voluntary Collection Agreements with STR booking platforms
The Duval County Tourist Development Council unanimously approved a motion supporting the Administration's and Tax Collector's recommendation to contract with short-term rental booking platforms and establish Voluntary Collection Agreements (VCAs) for the 6% TDT. Until agreements are executed, hosts must continue remitting TDT directly.
Official source →June 27, 2024
Governor vetoes SB 280 statewide vacation-rental regulation bill
Gov. DeSantis vetoed SB 280, which would have created a statewide vacation-rental registry, occupancy limits, and platform obligations. The veto left the existing framework in place: F.S. 509.032(7)(b) preemption plus DBPR licensing, with no new state registry affecting Jacksonville hosts.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Jacksonville?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Jacksonville, FL, but you must obtain a Vacation Rental License (Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants — state license; the City of Jacksonville has no municipal STR permit) before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Jacksonville?
Yes. Jacksonville requires a Vacation Rental License (Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants — state license; the City of Jacksonville has no municipal STR permit) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $170 and must be renewed annually. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Jacksonville short-term rental permit cost?
The Vacation Rental License (Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants — state license; the City of Jacksonville has no municipal STR permit) costs $170 (annual renewal). State DBPR fee, not a city fee: full-year single license $170 (half-year $90), plus a $50 application fee for new licenses or change of ownership; a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee applies and is not prorated. Group and collective license fees scale by number of units. The DBPR license is only required for whole-unit rentals rented more than three times a year for stays under 30 days (or advertised as regularly rented); renting a single room in an occupied home is exempt from DBPR licensing. The City of Jacksonville itself charges no STR permit fee.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Jacksonville?
Yes — Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville?
Hosts in Jacksonville are subject to: Florida state sales and use tax (transient rental tax + Duval County discretionary sales surtax) (7.5%), Duval County Convention/Tourist Development Tax (TDT) (6%) — roughly 13.5% 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 Jacksonville?
No — in Jacksonville hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Jacksonville?
No city STR-specific fines (no ordinance). Delinquent Duval County TDT accrues a penalty of 10% per month on unpaid taxes, capped at 50%, with a minimum penalty of $50; operating an unlicensed vacation rental is a violation of Florida's public lodging law enforced by DBPR. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.
Jacksonville's STR rules changed 2 times recently.
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Related
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More resources
- How to get a short-term rental permit in Jacksonville
- Jacksonville short-term rental taxes explained
- Can I Airbnb in Jacksonville?
- All Florida STR laws by city
- Occupancy tax calculator
- Compare STR permit costs across cities
- Jacksonville ranks among cheapest str permit cities
- Jacksonville ranks among easiest cities for airbnb
- STR city rankings: strictest, cheapest permits & more
- What is transient occupancy tax?
- Best STR compliance tools, compared
- Latest STR rule changes nationwide
Sources
- Duval County Tax Collector — Convention/Tourist Development Tax (Short-Term Rentals)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Florida DBPR — Lodging License Fees (Vacation Rentals)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Florida DBPR — Guide to Vacation Rentals and Timeshare Projectsretrieved July 20, 2026
- Florida Statutes § 509.032 (vacation rental preemption, 509.032(7)(b))retrieved July 20, 2026
- Duval County Tourist Development Council — Meeting Minutes, February 12, 2026 (Board Approved)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Jacksonville, FL Code of Ordinances (Municode) — Chapter 656 Zoning Coderetrieved July 20, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center — Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Floridaretrieved July 20, 2026
- Duval County Tax Collector — Local Business Taxretrieved July 20, 2026
- Florida Phoenix — DeSantis vetoes short-term vacation rental bill (SB 280)retrieved July 20, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Jacksonville and a qualified professional before operating.