Short-Term Rental Rules & Licensing on Florida's Nature Coast

Good news first: short-term renting is allowed across Florida's Nature Coast. The rules are mostly about registration and taxes, not bans — and they're very manageable with the right help.

Florida limits local bans

Florida law restricts how cities and counties can outright prohibit short-term rentals, especially for properties that were already operating. Hernando and Pasco counties both permit short-term rentals. What local governments can do is require registration, collect taxes, and enforce ordinary rules (noise, parking, occupancy, safety).

The tax piece (the part owners miss)

Short-term rental income in Florida is subject to state sales tax plus a county tourist-development tax (often called the "bed tax"). You generally must:

• Register with the state (Department of Revenue) and the county.
• Collect the right tax on every booking.
• Remit it on schedule.

Airbnb and Vrbo collect some of these taxes automatically — but not always all of them, and direct bookings are on you. Gaps here are where owners get surprise bills.

Practical checklist

• Register for state + county tax accounts.
• Confirm what each booking channel collects vs. what you must remit.
• Meet basic safety/occupancy expectations.
• Keep clean records.

> Rules and rates change by county and over time — verify the current specifics before you rely on them. Or skip the homework: we register your home and handle the tourist-development tax for you. Get started →