Miami-Dade Vacation Rental Requirements: Everything Property Owners Need to Know Before Listing
Most Miami homeowners who decide to list a property as a short-term rental underestimate what stands between that decision and the first legal booking. The conversation usually starts with nightly rates and occupancy projections.
The conversation that should happen first is compliance. Miami-Dade County operates one of the most layered short-term rental regulatory environments in Florida, with requirements that run across three separate levels of government, each with its own applications, fees, inspections, and renewal timelines. Getting any one of them wrong does not mean reduced income. It can mean fines, platform delisting, or forced closure of a rental that was already generating bookings.
Almost every Miami property can be legally operated as a short-term rental if the right steps are taken in the right order.
Why Miami-Dade Is More Complex Than Most Florida Markets
Florida requires state-level licensing, while Miami-Dade adds county requirements. Properties within incorporated cities may also face a third layer.
A property in Miami, Miami Beach, or unincorporated Miami-Dade can therefore have very different requirements. Airbnb and Vrbo do not replace these obligations. Compliance remains the homeowner’s responsibility.
Layer One: Florida State DBPR License
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is the first licensing step for qualifying short-term rentals. Properties rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days more than three times per year generally require a Vacation Rental License under Chapter 509 of the Florida Statutes.
DBPR offers two license types:
- Vacation Rental Dwelling: Single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, and quadruplexes
- Vacation Rental Condominium: Condominiums and cooperative units
Choosing the correct license type is important to avoid delays. The fees are $170 annually or $90 for six months, plus a $50 new application fee and a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee. Licenses expire on October 1 each year, regardless of when they were issued.
The license must be active before a property is advertised or accepts bookings and must be displayed inside the rental.
Owners must also register separately with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect and remit the applicable state sales tax on qualifying short-term rental income.
Layer Two: Miami-Dade County Requirements
A state license alone does not make a property ready to list.
The primary county requirement is a Certificate of Use, issued by Miami-Dade County’s Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources. It must be obtained before the property is advertised or listed.
The application fee is $139.44, with an inspection covering key fire, building, and safety requirements. The Certificate of Use must be displayed inside the rental, include the responsible party’s contact information and maximum occupancy, and is renewed annually.
Owners must also register for Miami-Dade Tourist Development Tax for qualifying short-term rentals and meet the applicable collection and filing requirements.
A Miami-Dade Business Tax Receipt may also be required depending on the property’s annual rental income.
Layer Three: Municipal Requirements
Properties within an incorporated municipality may face an additional layer of requirements. The rules vary significantly by location.
City of Miami: Short-term rentals must meet applicable zoning requirements and may require an Operational Management Plan, Certificate of Use and Occupancy, DBPR license, and City Business Tax Receipt. The application sequence matters.
Miami Beach: Short-term rentals are heavily restricted in many residential areas. Where permitted, additional licensing, tax, and occupancy requirements apply, including a Miami Beach Business Tax Receipt and Resort Tax Certificate.
Other municipalities: Cities such as Surfside, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, Hialeah, and Coral Gables have their own requirements. Homeowners should confirm the rules directly with the municipality where the property is located.
Condo & HOA Approval
Government approval is only part of the process.
Many condo buildings and managed communities have their own restrictions on short-term rentals, including minimum stays, registration requirements, or outright prohibitions.
Before applying for licenses, review the property’s condo or HOA governing documents. A property can meet government requirements and still be prohibited from operating as a short-term rental by its building or association.
What Happens Without Compliance?
Operating without the required approvals can result in fines, license action, forced closure, or platform delisting.
Compliance isn’t something to address after the first booking. It’s part of getting the property ready for the market.
How MRMVR Handles This for Every Property
At MRMVR, compliance is addressed before a property goes live, not after the first booking. During onboarding, we work through the applicable DBPR license, Miami-Dade Certificate of Use, county and municipal tax registrations, Tourist Development Tax requirements, and any city-specific approvals.
For first-time homeowners, this can be one of the most time-consuming steps, particularly in Miami Beach and the City of Miami, where additional municipal requirements may apply.
By getting the right applications started in the right order from day one, MRMVR helps avoid unnecessary delays between deciding to list and being legally ready to welcome your first guest.
Support MRMVR
We’re proud to be nominated for recognition in Miami-Dade’s real estate community, and your support would mean a great deal to our team.
If you’d like to vote for MRM Vacation Rental, visit votemiamidade.com, select Real Estate → Property Management Company, and choose MRM Vacation Rental to submit your vote.
Thank you for supporting MRM Vacation Rental.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Certificate of Use and how much does it cost?
The Certificate of Use is a Miami-Dade County approval required for all short-term rentals in the county before listing or advertising on any platform. The application fee is $139.44 and includes a fire and building safety inspection scheduled within 10 business days of application. It renews annually and must be displayed inside the rental unit.
What is the difference between a Vacation Rental Dwelling license and a Vacation Rental Condominium license?
A Vacation Rental Dwelling license covers single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, and quadruplexes. A Vacation Rental Condominium license covers condo and cooperative units. The correct type depends on the property’s structure and must be applied for before any county or city approvals are sought.
Are Miami Beach short-term rental rules different from the rest of Miami-Dade?
Yes significantly. Miami Beach prohibits short-term rentals under six months and one day in most residential zones with limited exceptions. Where permitted, operators need the DBPR licence, a Miami Beach Business Tax Receipt, a Miami Beach Resort Tax Certificate, and Miami-Dade Tourist Development Tax registration. Miami Beach does not participate in Airbnb’s automatic resort tax remittance, meaning hosts must collect and remit that tax themselves.
Can I list my condo as a short-term rental in Miami?
Only if the building permits it. Many Miami condo buildings prohibit short-term rentals, restrict minimum stay lengths, or require board approval. The building’s governing documents should be reviewed before any government licence applications are made. Operating without building approval, even with full government compliance, can result in HOA fines or legal action.