Fort Lauderdale, FL, boasts 165 miles of majestic inland waterways and 3,000+ hours of sunshine yearly. Coupled with its world-class beaches, rich culture, and superb amenities, it's no wonder the city attracts many tourists.
So, if you own property here that's just sitting empty and unused, consider renting it out to vacationers. That way, you can generate rental income while helping boost the city's tourism.
But before offering your property to holiday-goers, you must first understand the city's legal considerations for vacation rentals. We've outlined them in this guide, so read on.
Fort Lauderdale Regulations for Vacation Rentals
Vacation rental laws in Fort Lauderdale include mandatory registration of short-term rental properties. These apply to residential houses and condo units advertised for transient occupants and rented out for 30 days or less.
To register your vacation rental with the city, you must first apply for state and county licensure. These include:
- Department of Business and Professional Regulation license
- Department of Revenue license
- Broward County Business Tax Receipt
- Broward County Tourist Development Tax
You also have to prepare these documents to proceed with the registration:
- Proof of property ownership issued by the Broward County Property Appraiser's website
- A blank or sample copy of your vacation rental lease agreement
- Completed online application via the LauderBuild website
After that, you'll have to settle the registration payment. Next, you must schedule an inspection of your property with a City Code Officer. If your property passes the assessment, you'll get a Certificate of Compliance.
After you receive the Certificate of Compliance, you can start marketing your vacation rental.
Vacation Rental Compliance Tips
One of the best strategies to get your vacation rental in Fort Lauderdale up and running ASAP is to partner with a property management company. They understand all short-term rental rules in the city, so they can help you get your property licensed and registered quickly. They can legally do so, provided you give them a notarized authorization letter.
Additionally, your property manager can help ensure your property is rent-ready by:
- Identifying and fixing issues with the property's structural integrity
- Addressing any problem that could pose health and safety hazards (e.g., roofing and plumbing leaks)
- Overseeing property cleaning, maintenance, and repairs
Reliable property managers work with licensed, vetted contractors. So, you can rest easy knowing your property is in capable hands.
You can also rely on your property manager to do the marketing work for you. They'll even coordinate bookings and respond to inquiries on your behalf. With their help, you can ensure your guests will have a wonderful, memorable time in your rental.
Comply With These Legal Considerations for Vacation Rentals
Now you know that licensure and registration are among the critical legal considerations for vacation rentals in Fort Lauderdale, FL. So, before renting your property to vacationers, ensure you've completed all these requirements.
Better yet, partner with our company, PMI Premium Services. We provide full-service rental vacation management solutions, so you can rely on us to help you start and run your business profitably. We're also part of PMI, a national property management company that has served landlords like you throughout the U.S. for over 20 years.
So, speak with us today! We'll happily address all your questions and give you a free consultation.
