Key West vs Tampa
Florida Restricted | Florida Legal with Permit
Disclaimer: General information only — not legal advice. Verify with your local government.
| Requirement | Key West, Florida | Tampa, Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Legality Status | Restricted | Legal with Permit |
| Permit Fee | $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee | $50 DBPR application + $170/year state license; county Business Tax Receipt required |
| Tax Rate | 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales) | ~13.5% combined (6% county tourist dev. + 6% state sales + 1.5% surtax) |
| Annual Day Limit | No limit | No limit |
| Renewal Interval | Annual | Annual |
| Platform Remits Taxes | Yes | Yes |
| Max Fine Example | Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate | Daily compounding fines for violations; amounts vary by infraction |
| Verdict | Tampa 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
Tampa, Florida
Status Legal with Permit
Permit Fee $50 DBPR application + $170/year state license; county Business Tax Receipt required
Tax Rate ~13.5% combined (6% county tourist dev. + 6% state sales + 1.5% surtax)
Day Limit No limit
Renewal Annual
Platform Tax Yes
Max Fine Daily compounding fines for violations; amounts vary by infraction
Tampa 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 →Tampa Overview
No city-specific STR ordinance — state DBPR license and county Business Tax Receipt are primary requirements. Florida's 2011 preemption law limits local restrictions. STRs generally allowed in commercial and mixed-use zones.
Full Tampa guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easier to Airbnb in Key West or Tampa?
Key West is classified as "Restricted" while Tampa is "Legal with Permit." Key West's permit fee is $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee compared to $50 DBPR application + $170/year state license; county Business Tax Receipt required in Tampa.
Which city has higher STR taxes — Key West or Tampa?
Key West charges 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales), while Tampa charges ~13.5% combined (6% county tourist dev. + 6% state sales + 1.5% surtax). 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. Tampa: Daily compounding fines for violations; amounts vary by infraction.