How to get a short-term rental permit in Monroe County, FL (2026)
Monroe County requires Special Vacation Rental Permit — the fee is $490, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Special Vacation Rental Permit |
| Permit fee | $490 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. A 'vacation rental' is any dwelling rented for tenancies under 28 days; without a Special Vacation Rental Permit, rentals must be 28+ consecutive days to the same tenant. Vacation rental use with a permit is allowed in: Suburban Residential (SR), Suburban Residential-Limited (SR-L), Urban Residential (UR), Mixed Use (MU, detached units), Destination Resort (DR), IS-V (Improved Subdivision-Vacation Rental), Offshore Island (OS, units existing as of Jan 1, 2000), CFSD-16 (Conch Key), and as nonconforming uses in MI, RV (units built before Feb 16, 2011), SC and UC districts. Vacation rental use is prohibited in Improved Subdivision (IS/IS-M), Urban Residential Mobile Home (URM/URM-L) — except in gated communities with controlled access and an HOA that expressly regulates vacation rentals — and in conservation, commercial fishing, industrial, military, native area and similar districts. Incorporated cities (Key West, Marathon, Islamorada, Key Colony Beach, Layton) have their own separate rules.
- 2
Apply for the Special Vacation Rental Permit
Submit the Special Vacation Rental Permit application to Monroe County and pay the $490 fee. Initial application fee $490; annual renewal $100. A Special Vacation Rental Manager License ($110) is also required for the unit's manager. Fire and life safety inspection fees apply per inspection: $125 (1 bedroom), $250 (2-3 bedrooms), $400 (4+ bedrooms). Permit is nontransferable on sale; new owners must obtain a new permit. Units in gated communities with controlled access and an HOA that expressly regulates/manages vacation rentals may qualify for an exemption under MCC Sec. 134-1(b).
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Monroe County. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Monroe County changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Monroe County for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
Keep going
Verified July 12, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Monroe County before applying.