Executive overview: Are short‑term rentals allowed in Boca Raton, Florida?

• The short answer is: it depends—and you must check both the City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County, then confirm Florida’s state preemption rules. One community thread from the City of Boca Raton states that home‑sharing/Airbnb is not allowed inside city limits, and several hosts have reported being told by city zoning that short‑term rentals are prohibited. However, hosts also report success obtaining county Business Tax Receipts (BTR) and paying Palm Beach County Tourist Development Taxes (TDT), and the county BTR form has included “No Zoning Required” language. Legal disputes and state preemption (including SB 280 and the Florida Vacation Rental Dwelling law) create uncertainty; owners should obtain written confirmations from both the City of Boca Raton zoning office and the Palm Beach County Tax Collector before listing. — Sources: community thread, All City Permits.

• Where state preemption fits: Florida law limits local municipalities’ ability to ban STRs, but local zoning and “hotel/motel” character issues can be invoked. Owners in Boca Raton often rely on the county TDT/BTR process to operate and then defend against city enforcement under state preemption theory. — Sources: community thread, BNBCalc, BNBCalc.

• Operationally, if you proceed, the minimal compliant setup that many local owners use is: (1) create a Palm Beach County TDT account and BTR; (2) collect and remit state sales tax (6%) and county TDT (6%); (3) display license/registration numbers in all ads; and (4) identify a 24/7 contact person capable of responding to complaints. — Sources: Hearthomes, BNBCalc.

How to start a short‑term rental business in this market (Boca Raton, Palm Beach County)

Before listing, complete the following sequence. The steps below reflect what hosts actually use in Boca Raton and how Palm Beach County administers STRs.

1. Confirm property eligibility (city zoning and covenants)

• Call Boca Raton Planning & Zoning at 561‑393‑7806 and ask:
  • Is a short‑term rental (less than 30 days) a permitted principal use on this parcel, or is a conditional use required?
  • Is the property in a single‑family residential district where STRs are prohibited or restricted?
  • Are “home‑sharing” or “tourist homes” explicitly prohibited by ordinance? Request the specific ordinance number(s) in writing. — Sources: community thread.
• Check HOA, condo, and lease restrictions. Boca Raton HOA rules may be more restrictive than city or county rules.

2. Obtain county tax registrations (Palm Beach County)

• Open a TDT account with Palm Beach County and get a BTR.
  • Apply online for the TDT account (portals listed in Links below). Provide identification and property Control Numbers.
  • After obtaining the TDT number, submit a BTR application (fillable form linked below) and pay the fee. The BTR form has included “No Zoning Required,” but treat this as a county administrative stance and still confirm city zoning independently. — Sources: Hearthomes, All City Permits.

3. State licensing and taxes (Florida)

• Register as a Florida Vacation Rental Dwelling (VRD) landlord (state license) with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) if required. If you are a property manager for a property you do not own, you may need a real estate license. — Source: All City Permits.
• Set up Florida sales tax collection (6%) through the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR). You must register, collect, file, and remit state sales tax on all STR bookings less than six months. — Sources: BNBCalc, BNB Calc.

4. Implement tax remittance for Palm Beach County

• Collect and remit TDT (6%) on all bookings less than six months to Palm Beach County. Submit returns via the county portal (address and web in Links). — Sources: BNBCalc, Hearthomes.
• Discretionary sales surtax: Palm Beach County may apply up to 1.5% on top of state sales tax (check current rate annually). — Source: BNBCalc.

5. Insurance and safety

• Obtain liability and property damage insurance suitable for STRs. Consider specialized STR coverage. — Source: Hearthomes.
• Safety standards and best practices (inspections recommended):
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, clear emergency egress.
  • Reliable locks and secure entry systems.
  • Guest emergency information and a safety manual.
  • High cleanliness standards and professional cleaning between stays. — Source: Hearthomes.

6. Build operations that reduce enforcement risk

• Designate a 24/7 “responsible person” who can respond to guest issues and neighbor complaints. — Source: BNBCalc.
• Enforce quiet hours and parking rules, respond quickly to complaints, and keep logs.

7. Publish license/registration numbers

• Include the county BTR and TDT numbers in your listing(s) and communications if required by county or platform guidance. — Source: Hearthomes.

Optional: If you want professional assistance, you can hire a service such as the provider publishing guidance for Boca Raton (all links and contact in References).

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

The following summarizes the documents and registrations required in Boca Raton/Palm Beach County:

• Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt (BTR)

  • Issued by Palm Beach County Tax Collector.
  • Requirements include identification and property Control Numbers; use the county’s fillable BTR form (linked below).
  • The BTR form has included “No Zoning Required,” but always confirm Boca Raton zoning separately. — Sources: All City Permits, community thread, Hearthomes.

• Tourist Development Tax (TDT) account and remittance

  • Issued/collected by Palm Beach County Tax Collector.
  • You must open a TDT account, collect 6% TDT on bookings under six months, and remit through the county portal. — Sources: BNBCalc, Hearthomes.

• Florida Vacation Rental Dwelling License (state)

  • Required by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). — Source: All City Permits.

• Florida sales tax registration

  • Register with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect and remit 6% state sales tax on rentals less than six months. — Source: BNBCalc.

• Evidence to prepare

  • Ownership proof, proof of insurance, fire safety compliance reports or inspections, property Control Number(s). — Source: All City Permits.

• Best-practice documentation and policies

  • Guest safety manual and emergency contact procedures.
  • Quiet hours/parking rules and a 24/7 responsible contact. — Sources: BNBCalc, Hearthomes.

Specific regulations (Boca Raton city, Palm Beach County, Florida)

• Boca Raton city level

  • Host reports indicate the City of Boca Raton treats short‑term rentals (less than 30 days) as prohibited in city code (e.g., “home‑sharing is not allowed in the city”), including in single‑family residential areas. The city’s zoning office has reportedly told applicants STRs are not allowed. — Sources: community thread, All City Permits.
  • City noise, parking, and other ordinances remain applicable; violations can lead to fines and other enforcement. — Sources: community thread.

• Palm Beach County level

  • All STRs require a BTR from the county. — Source: Hearthomes.
  • You must collect and remit a 6% TDT on bookings less than six months. — Source: BNBCalc.
  • Assign a 24/7 responsible person for guest complaints/neighbor issues. — Source: BNBCalc.
  • Fines for noncompliance can escalate. One source reports fines of $1,000 first offense, $2,500 for a second offense, and up to $5,000 for each subsequent violation, with potential eviction of guests for violations. — Source: All City Permits (note: confirm issuer and legal basis; treat this as a reference and verify current penalties).

• State of Florida level

  • State sales tax at 6% applies to rentals less than six months. — Source: BNBCalc.
  • Florida STR preemption (including SB 280 and VRD law) limits municipal bans but does not eliminate zoning and “hotel/motel” character enforcement. Hosts operating in Boca Raton have cited preemption in disputes; obtain legal advice if enforcement actions are taken. — Sources: community thread, BNBCalc.

Enforcement and penalties (what happens if you’re not compliant)

Based on the referenced sources, enforcement and penalties in Boca Raton/Palm Beach County include:

• City level

  • Enforcement actions and hearings have been reported; if the city determines an illegal STR operation, guests may be evicted and the host fined. — Source: community thread, All City Permits.

• County level

  • Failure to obtain a BTR, open a TDT account, or remit TDT/sales tax can trigger penalties and interest. The county can pursue compliance through its tax collection and business tax systems. — Sources: Hearthomes, BNBCalc.

• Fines schedule (as reported by a licensing provider—verify with the issuing authority)

  • First offense: $1,000
  • Second offense: $2,500
  • Subsequent offenses: up to $5,000 each
  • Additional potential consequence: eviction of guests if operating illegally — Source: All City Permits.

Note: The authority and current applicability of the fine schedule should be verified with the local authority before relying on it operationally. This guide reflects reported amounts, not an official fine schedule.

Contact information (local authority in charge of STRs)

Use these contacts to confirm the current rules before listing:

• City of Boca Raton – Code Enforcement

  • Phone: 561‑393‑7806 (general city line; ask for Code Enforcement or Planning & Zoning)
  • Email/website: Use the City’s official website contact channels (recommended). — Source: community thread.

• City of Boca Raton – Planning & Zoning

  • Phone: 561‑393‑7806 (ask to be transferred to Planning & Zoning)
  • Purpose: Confirm whether short‑term rentals are a permitted or conditional use at your property. — Source: community thread.

• Palm Beach County Tax Collector – Tourist Development Tax (TDT)

  • Phone: 561‑355‑3547
  • Email: [email protected] (pro tip: do not reveal the email if you must, but this is provided in the county’s own materials)
  • TDT portal: see Links below
  • Purpose: Open your TDT account, file returns, and obtain BTR application instructions. — Source: Hearthomes.

• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) – Vacation Rental Dwelling

  • Website: see Links below
  • Purpose: Obtain or verify the Florida VRD landlord license and manager licensing requirements. — Source: All City Permits.

• Florida Department of Revenue (DOR)

  • Website: see Links below
  • Purpose: Register for sales tax collection and remittance on STR income. — Source: BNBCalc.

Links to source pages (IMPORTANT)

Use these official pages and primary sources to verify the latest rules and forms:

• All City Permits: Boca Raton Short‑Term Vacation Rental License (overview and reported rules/fines) — www.allcitypermits.com/boca-raton-short-term-vacation-rental-license.htm — Source: All City Permits.

• Airbnb Community Forum: “Home sharing is not allowed in the city of Boca Raton, Florida” — community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help-with-your-business/Home-sharing-is-not-allowed-in-the-city-of-Boca-Raton-Florida/m-p/859349 — Source: community thread.

• BNBCalc: Boca Raton, Florida Short‑Term Rental Guide (taxes and preemption notes) — www.bnbcalc.com/blog/short-term-rental-regulation/Boca-Raton-Florida-guide — Source: BNBCalc.

• BNBCalc: Palm Beach County, Florida Short‑Term Rental Guide (TDT, BTR, preemption notes) — www.bnbcalc.com/blog/short-term-rental-regulation/Palm-Beach-County-Florida-Guide — Source: BNBCalc.

• Palm Beach County TDT Portal (open account, file, pay) — pbctax.publicaccessnow.com/TouristDevelopmentTax.aspx — Source: Hearthomes.

• Hearthomes: Comprehensive Guide to Palm Beach County Short‑Term Rental Rules (process, contacts, safety/insurance practices) — hearthomes.ca/palm-beach-county-short-term-rental-rules/ — Source: Hearthomes.

• Palm Beach County fillable BTR form (TDT‑B