Fort Lauderdale vs Key West
Florida Legal with Permit | Florida Restricted
Disclaimer: General information only — not legal advice. Verify with your local government.
| Requirement | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Key West, Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Legality Status | Legal with Permit | Restricted |
| Permit Fee | $350 initial registration; $80–$160/year renewal | $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee |
| Tax Rate | ~13% combined (6% county tourist dev. + 6% state sales + 1% surtax) | 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales) |
| Annual Day Limit | No limit | No limit |
| Renewal Interval | Annual | Annual |
| Platform Remits Taxes | Yes | Yes |
| Max Fine Example | $250/uncontested violation; up to $15,000/day during suspension | Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate |
| Verdict | Fort Lauderdale has more favorable STR regulations overall. | |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Status Legal with Permit
Permit Fee $350 initial registration; $80–$160/year renewal
Tax Rate ~13% combined (6% county tourist dev. + 6% state sales + 1% surtax)
Day Limit No limit
Renewal Annual
Platform Tax Yes
Max Fine $250/uncontested violation; up to $15,000/day during suspension
Key West, Florida
Status Restricted
Permit Fee $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee
Tax Rate 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales)
Day Limit No limit
Renewal Annual
Platform Tax Yes
Max Fine Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate
Fort Lauderdale has more favorable STR regulations overall.
Fort Lauderdale Overview
Annual registration and Certificate of Compliance required. Occupancy capped at 2 persons per bedroom. Florida DBPR state license also required.
Full Fort Lauderdale guide →Key West Overview
Moratorium on new transient rental licenses — only grandfathered properties may operate STRs under 28 days. Existing licenses are property-specific and command $400K+ on the secondary market. Florida DBPR state license also required.
Full Key West guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easier to Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale or Key West?
Fort Lauderdale is classified as "Legal with Permit" while Key West is "Restricted." Fort Lauderdale's permit fee is $350 initial registration; $80–$160/year renewal compared to $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee in Key West.
Which city has higher STR taxes — Fort Lauderdale or Key West?
Fort Lauderdale charges ~13% combined (6% county tourist dev. + 6% state sales + 1% surtax), while Key West charges 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales). Compare the full breakdown in the table above.
Which city has stricter fines for illegal short-term rentals?
Fort Lauderdale: $250/uncontested violation; up to $15,000/day during suspension. Key West: Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate.