Key West vs New York City
Florida Restricted | New York Effectively Banned
Disclaimer: General information only — not legal advice. Verify with your local government.
| Requirement | Key West, Florida | New York City, New York |
|---|---|---|
| Legality Status | Restricted | Effectively Banned |
| Permit Fee | $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee | $145 registration fee (OSE) |
| Tax Rate | 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales) | 5.875% hotel room occupancy tax + state/city sales tax |
| Annual Day Limit | No limit | No limit |
| Renewal Interval | Annual | Every 2 years |
| Platform Remits Taxes | Yes | Yes |
| Max Fine Example | Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate | $5,000 first offense; up to $7,500 for subsequent violations |
| Verdict | Key West has more favorable STR regulations overall. | |
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
New York City, New York
Status Effectively Banned
Permit Fee $145 registration fee (OSE)
Tax Rate 5.875% hotel room occupancy tax + state/city sales tax
Day Limit No limit
Renewal Every 2 years
Platform Tax Yes
Max Fine $5,000 first offense; up to $7,500 for subsequent violations
Key West has more favorable STR regulations overall.
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 →New York City Overview
Local Law 18 (2023) requires hosts to register with OSE, be present during stays, and limits guests to 2. Entire-apartment rentals under 30 days are effectively banned. Only hosted stays with the owner present are permitted.
Full New York City guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easier to Airbnb in Key West or New York City?
Key West is classified as "Restricted" while New York City is "Effectively Banned." Key West's permit fee is $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee compared to $145 registration fee (OSE) in New York City.
Which city has higher STR taxes — Key West or New York City?
Key West charges 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales), while New York City charges 5.875% hotel room occupancy tax + state/city sales tax. Compare the full breakdown in the table above.
Which city has stricter fines for illegal short-term rentals?
Key West: Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate. New York City: $5,000 first offense; up to $7,500 for subsequent violations.