Florida Vacation Rental Act - Summary

• Creates a state licensing system for vacation rentals managed by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, preempting local government regulation of licensing and inspection while allowing local activity regulation that applies uniformly to all residential properties.

• Requires vacation rental operators to obtain a state license before operation, with annual renewals and temporary licenses issued upon application; operating without a license is a second-degree misdemeanor.

• Establishes maximum license fees not exceeding $1,000, with up to 75 units allowed under a single license; includes application fees up to $50 and delinquent renewal fees up to $50.

• Sets maximum occupancy limits at the lesser of four persons plus two per sleeping room or one person per 150 square feet of finished area.

• Allows license suspension up to 12 months or revocation for violations, with fines up to $1,000 per offense; requires division to audit at least 1 percent annually of operators with 5+ multifamily units rented more than 180 days per year.