How to get a short-term rental permit in Osceola County, FL (2026)
Osceola County requires Osceola County Local Business Tax Receipt (Short Term Rental) plus Tourist Tax account registration — the fee is $30, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Osceola County Local Business Tax Receipt (Short Term Rental) plus Tourist Tax account registration |
| Permit fee | $30 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs in unincorporated Osceola County are a location-restricted use: LDC sec. 3.12.2 permits Short Term Rental only within the mapped 'Short-Term Rental Overlay' (Future Land Use Map 2A) and only in Planned Development zoning, subject to Planned Development standards. The county maintains a dedicated Short Term Rental Planned Development (STRPD) zoning district 'established for the purpose of developing short term rental housing,' and the Commercial Tourist (CT) district also implements the Short Term Rental Overlay policies. In practice STRs are concentrated in approved resort communities along the US-192/W. Irlo Bronson corridor; the county publishes a listing of approved short-term-rental communities. Homes outside the overlay in ordinary residential districts cannot be used as STRs. Osceola's location restrictions predate and survive Florida's June 1, 2011 preemption grandfather date in F.S. 509.032(7)(b), which bars newer local rules from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating rental duration/frequency. Kissimmee and St. Cloud regulate STRs separately inside their city limits.
- 2
Apply for the Osceola County Local Business Tax Receipt (Short Term Rental) plus Tourist Tax account registration
Submit the Osceola County Local Business Tax Receipt (Short Term Rental) plus Tourist Tax account registration application to Osceola County and pay the $30 fee. County Local Business Tax Receipt is $30.00 annually (prorated: $15 if first issued Apr 1-Jun 30; $45 for an 18-month receipt if issued Jul 1-Sep 30). A separate $5.00-per-unit Tourist Tax account registration is required. A Florida DBPR vacation rental (Resort Dwelling/Resort Condominium) license must also be held and a copy submitted with the county application; DBPR new applications cost $50 application fee + $10 Hospitality Education Program fee + a license fee based on unit count and renewal cycle (a single unit runs about $170/year). Properties inside Kissimmee or St. Cloud city limits need that city's own receipt/license instead of or in addition to the county's.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Osceola 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 Osceola County changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Osceola 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 Osceola County before applying.