Sarasota Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Vacation Rental Certificate of Registration

Renewal: one (1) calendar year until December 31

Application Process

Once the application has been approved and application fee has been paid, you must contact City staff to schedule the inspection. A vacation rental must be inspected prior to issuance of any initial or renewed certificate of registration.

• Inspection: ✓ Required
• State license: A copy of a current and active license for the vacation rental issued by the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation showing that the vacation rental is licensed as a transient public lodging establishment.
• Business tax receipt: A copy of the business tax receipt showing payment of the City of Sarasota local business tax for the vacation rental for the current fiscal year or other proof of payment.

Tax Obligations

Occupancy & Density Limits

Maximum occupancy for vacation rentals in residential single-family zone districts shall be two (2) persons per bedroom, plus two (2) additional persons per property or ten (10) persons, whichever is less. Children under six (6) years of age shall not be included in the calculation of maximum occupancy. Maximum occupancy for vacation rentals in residential multiple-family zone districts shall be two (2) persons per bedroom, plus two (2) additional persons per property or twelve (12) persons, whichever is less.

Safety

• The vacation rental shall have a smoke and carbon monoxide detection and notification system which shall be installed and continually maintained and which shall be permanently powered by the dwelling's electrical system, or where not feasible, shall be powered by ten-year nonremovable, nonreplaceable batteries.
• A portable, multi-purpose dry chemical 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher shall be installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 on each floor level of the vacation rental.
• Vacation rentals that have an inground, above ground, outdoor pool, indoor pool, or a spa shall comply with the latest adopted edition of the Florida Building Code, Residential Code, chapter 45, as amended.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate and distinct violation. All repeat violations shall be scheduled for a hearing before the special magistrate and the repeat violator shall not have the option to pay a fine prior to the hearing. For purposes of this paragraph the term repeat violation shall mean a second violation of the same provision of this chapter or the same provision of another applicable city ordinance for the second time within a one-year period. In addition to any fines and any other remedies described herein or provided by law, a special magistrate may, in his or her discretion, suspend an initial or renewed certificate of registration for a vacation rental upon request in accordance with the suspension time frames set forth in subsection (b) below: For a first violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, suspension of a certificate of registration is not authorized. Upon a second violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for a period of thirty (30) calendar days. Upon a third violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for a period of sixty (60) calendar days. Upon a fourth violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for a period of ninety (90) calendar days. For each additional violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for an additional thirty-calendar-day period up to a maximum period of three hundred sixty (360) calendar days. Code enforcement shall be undertaken in accordance with F.S. ch. 162 and the City of Sarasota Code of Ordinances.

Platform Requirements

Any advertising of the vacation rental shall display the City of Sarasota Vacation Rental Certificate of Registration number and shall contain the maximum occupancy limit for the rental.

Compliance Checklist

1. Meet the safety requirements
   • The vacation rental shall have a smoke and carbon monoxide detection and notification system which shall be installed and continually maintained and which shall be permanently powered by the dwelling's electrical system, or where not feasible, shall be powered by ten-year nonremovable, nonreplaceable batteries.
   • A portable, multi-purpose dry chemical 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher shall be installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 on each floor level of the vacation rental.
   • Vacation rentals that have an inground, above ground, outdoor pool, indoor pool, or a spa shall comply with the latest adopted edition of the Florida Building Code, Residential Code, chapter 45, as amended.
2. Apply for the permit
   • $500.00
   • How to apply: Once the application has been approved and application fee has been paid, you must contact City staff to schedule the inspection. A vacation rental must be inspected prior to issuance of any initial or renewed certificate of registration.
3. Register for tax
   • Florida State Sales Tax: register with Florida Department of Revenue
   • Sarasota County Discretionary Sales Surtax: register with Sarasota County
4. Renew your permit
   • $350.00
   • Renewal period: one (1) calendar year until December 31

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run a short-term rental in Sarasota?

Yes.

Permit: Vacation Rental Certificate of Registration

How to apply: Once the application has been approved and application fee has been paid, you must contact City staff to schedule the inspection. A vacation rental must be inspected prior to issuance of any initial or renewed certificate of registration.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Sarasota?

Initial fee (Vacation Rental Certificate of Registration): $500.00

Renewal fee (Vacation Rental Certificate of Registration): $350.00

Renewal period (Vacation Rental Certificate of Registration): one (1) calendar year until December 31

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Sarasota?

Florida State Sales Tax: 6%

Sarasota County Discretionary Sales Surtax: 1%

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Sarasota?

Penalty: Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate and distinct violation. All repeat violations shall be scheduled for a hearing before the special magistrate and the repeat violator shall not have the option to pay a fine prior to the hearing. For purposes of this paragraph the term repeat violation shall mean a second violation of the same provision of this chapter or the same provision of another applicable city ordinance for the second time within a one-year period. In addition to any fines and any other remedies described herein or provided by law, a special magistrate may, in his or her discretion, suspend an initial or renewed certificate of registration for a vacation rental upon request in accordance with the suspension time frames set forth in subsection (b) below: For a first violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, suspension of a certificate of registration is not authorized. Upon a second violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for a period of thirty (30) calendar days. Upon a third violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for a period of sixty (60) calendar days. Upon a fourth violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for a period of ninety (90) calendar days. For each additional violation of this chapter or other applicable city ordinance, the certificate of registration, if suspended, shall be suspended for an additional thirty-calendar-day period up to a maximum period of three hundred sixty (360) calendar days. Code enforcement shall be undertaken in accordance with F.S. ch. 162 and the City of Sarasota Code of Ordinances.