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March 18, 2026
Miami is the most regulated short-term rental market in Florida — and one of the most lucrative. The city has cracked down hard on unlicensed STRs in recent years, with enforcement teams actively monitoring Airbnb and VRBO. If you are operating in Miami without the right licenses, it is a matter of when, not if, you get caught.
Here is everything you need to get fully licensed in Miami in 2025. Want it done for you? Our team handles the entire process.
The City of Miami defines a short-term rental as any residential unit rented for a period of less than 6 months and one day. However, Miami has zoning-specific restrictions that make this more complex than most Florida cities — not every neighborhood allows STRs at all.
This is the step most Miami hosts skip — and it is the most important one. The City of Miami restricts short-term rentals in many residential zones. Before applying for any license, you must verify that your specific property is in a zone that permits vacation rentals.
STRs are generally permitted in:
STRs are generally not permitted in single-family residential zones (T3). Operating in a non-permitted zone is a serious violation regardless of other licenses held. Check the Miami Zoning map or contact the Planning Department before purchasing or applying.
Airbnb and VRBO handle these remittances automatically in Miami-Dade County for most hosts. You still need your own active TDT registration on file.
Miami enforces a maximum of two guests per bedroom for vacation rentals. Additional occupants beyond this limit are not permitted. Occupancy must be posted visibly inside the unit.
Miami also has strict noise ordinances. Violations can result in fines to the property owner, not just the guests.
Miami is one of the slower cities to get licensed in due to the Certificate of Use process. Expect 6 to 10 weeks when managing independently. The CU process often involves back-and-forth with the Planning Department.
Miami's licensing process is genuinely complex — zoning verification, four separate agency applications, and an inspection that needs to happen in a specific sequence. Our team has navigated this for many Miami property owners.
We handle zoning verification, DBPR application, Certificate of Use, BTR, and TDT registration simultaneously — so you get to your first booking faster with zero compliance risk.
Get in touch today and we'll review your property within 24 hours.
