Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Alachua, FL?

YES — Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Alachua County, Florida. Property owners may operate short-term rentals (rentals of 6 months or less) without city-specific restrictions or prohibitions. However, operators must comply with both county and state regulations, including tax collection and licensing requirements.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Alachua, FL

Step 1: Understand Your Regulatory Requirements

Short-term rentals in Alachua County are subject to two primary regulatory frameworks:

1. State of Florida licensing requirements (if renting entire units more than 3 times annually)
2. Alachua County Tourist Development Tax obligations

Step 2: Determine Licensing Requirements

If renting entire units: You must obtain a state vacation rental license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) if you rent the entire unit more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or 1 calendar month, or if it's advertised as regularly rented to guests.

If renting individual rooms only: No state license required, but local tax obligations still apply.

Step 3: Register for Tourist Development Tax (County Requirement)

All short-term rental providers must collect and remit Tourist Development Tax, regardless of whether a state license is required.

Updated Tax Collection Process (Effective January 1, 2025):

• Hosts using only Airbnb and VRBO/HomeAway: These platforms now collect and remit the 5% Tourist Development Tax directly to Alachua County. You do NOT need to file monthly returns unless you also book stays outside these platforms.
• Hosts booking through other channels: Must register with Alachua County Tax Collector and file monthly returns.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

State Requirements (DBPR - Vacation Rental License)

License Classifications:

• Vacation Rental - Condominium: For units in condominiums or cooperatives
• Vacation Rental - Dwelling: For single-family houses, townhouses, or units in duplex, triplex, or quadruplex buildings

License Types:

• Single License: One single-family house or townhouse, or units in single building owned/operated by same individual/entity
• Group License: For licensed agents covering all units within building or group of buildings in single complex
• Collective License: For licensed agents representing group of houses/units at separate locations (limited to 75 units max, restricted to counties within one district)

Required Documents:

• Completed online application through DBPR
• Documentation of property ownership or management agreement
• Verification that rental unit addresses match intended operations

Fees:

• Application fee: $50
• Hospitality Education Program (HEP) fee: $10
• License fees (based on unit count and location):
  • Single rental unit: $170 (full year) or $90 (half-year)
  • 2-25 rental units: $180 (full year) or $95 (half-year)
  • Additional tiers available for larger operations

County Requirements (Alachua County - Tourist Development Tax)

For hosts booking outside Airbnb/VRBO:

1. Create TouristExpress Account

   • Visit: alachua.county-taxes.com/tourist
   • Complete new user profile registration
   • Wait for confirmation email during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM)

2. Complete Registration

   • Log into TouristExpress and click "add a property"
   • Answer "no" to having existing tourist tax account number
   • Answer "yes" to adding new property
   • Complete 4-page application process
   • Submit to county and receive account number

3. Monthly Filing Requirements

   • File monthly returns even if no revenue collected
   • Payment due by 1st of following month
   • Late fee applies after 20th of following month

Documentation to Maintain:

• Records of all rental charges and tax collections
• Documentation supporting any tax exemptions claimed
• Guest registration records
• Financial records for minimum 3 years

Specific Regulations by Jurisdiction

City of Alachua

• No specific short-term rental ordinances identified
• City facility rental regulations exist but do not apply to private STRs
• Standard city business licensing may apply for local business tax receipt

Alachua County

• Tourist Development Tax: 5% on gross rental receipts for accommodations 6 months or less
• Additional taxes: 6% Florida state sales tax and 1% local option tax are collected by booking platforms
• Residential Rental Permitting Program: Does NOT apply to short-term rentals; covers only rentals 30+ consecutive days
• Minimum housing standards: Apply to all rental properties but are enforced through different programs for long-term vs. short-term rentals

State of Florida

• Licensing requirement: Entire unit rentals more than 3 times annually for periods under 30 days
• Health and safety standards:
  • Clean, safe, well-maintained units
  • Proper bedding and linens standards
  • Sanitization requirements for dishware
  • Smoke detector installation
  • Vermin-free environment
• Fire safety requirements:
  • Smoke detectors in every living unit
  • Hearing impaired smoke detectors (1 per 50 units, max 5 per license)
  • NFPA 101 Life Safety Code compliance
  • Special requirements for buildings 3+ stories
• Human trafficking awareness training: Required annually for housekeeping and front desk staff

Exemptions and Special Considerations

Tourist Development Tax Exemptions:

• Bona fide written leases longer than 6 months for continuous residence
• Continuous residence 6+ months (exempt from 7th month onward)
• Full-time postsecondary students and active-duty military
• Government/non-profit business purpose rentals (under specific conditions)
• Federal government employees with official travel orders
• Florida state employees when billed directly to exempt agency
• Foreign diplomats with proper exemption cards
• United States Armed Forces on active duty with federal travel orders
• Religious, charitable, educational organizations with Florida consumer certificates

Taxable Revenue Includes:

• Room revenue
• Roll-away bed fees
• In-room safe fees
• Pet fees
• No-show fees
• Required cleaning fees
• Utility fees
• Accidental damage insurance fees

Contact Information

Alachua County Tax Collector - Tourist Development Tax

Phone: (352) 264-6968
Email: TouristTax@alachuacollector.com
Office: 12 SE 1st Street, County Administration Building, Gainesville, FL 32601
Website: www.alachuacollector.com/tourist-development-2019/
Online Portal: alachua.county-taxes.com/tourist
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Division of Hotels and Restaurants
Phone: (850) 487-1395
TTY: (800) 955-8771
Email: dhr.info@myfloridalicense.com
Address: 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011
Website: www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/
Online Services: www.myfloridalicense.com/datamart/mainMenuFLDBPR.do

Alachua County Code Administration

Phone: (352) 374-5238
Website: alachuacounty.us/Depts/CodeAdmin/pages/residential-rental-unit-permit-program.aspx

City of Alachua Planning & Community Development

Phone: (386) 418-6100
Website: www.cityofalachua.com/government/planning-community-development
Address: P.O. Box 9, Alachua, FL 32616

Important Links to Source Pages

• Alachua County Tax Collector - Tourist Development
• Alachua County Tourist Development Tax Portal
• Florida DBPR - Vacation Rental Licensing Guide
• Alachua County Residential Rental Permitting Program
• Alachua County Short-Term Vacation Rental Tax Compliance

Key Takeaway for Investors: Alachua County offers a favorable environment for short-term rental investment with clear, well-defined regulatory requirements. The recent change allowing Airbnb and VRBO to directly remit Tourist Development Tax simplifies compliance for hosts who exclusively use these platforms. State licensing requirements are straightforward, and the absence of restrictive local ordinances provides operational flexibility. Success requires attention to tax obligations, proper licensing, and maintenance of high safety and cleanliness standards.