I. Overview of Short-Term Rental Legality

Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in Miami Gardens, Florida. As of January 2025, the City of Miami Gardens requires mandatory registration for all vacation rentals. Properties must be registered annually through the city's designated portal, administered by Avenu Insights and Analytics. This registration is a prerequisite for legally operating a short-term rental, defined by both city and county code as renting a property for fewer than 30 days or one calendar month.

II. How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Miami Gardens

Starting an STR business in Miami Gardens involves several critical steps, combining city, county, and state requirements.

1. Register for a City of Miami Gardens Vacation Rental Permit:

• Visit the dedicated registration portal: Short Term Rentals Portal.
• Create an account using your Avenu Account Number.
• Complete the application and pay the associated fees. Annual registration is mandatory and expires on September 30th each year.
• Citation: City of Miami Gardens Registration Announcement

2. Obtain Required State Licenses and Registrations:

• State License: Apply for a license as a transient public lodging establishment with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
• State Tax Registration: Register with the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) for the collection and remittance of sales tax and transient rental taxes (e.g., Tourist Development Tax).

3. Acquire Miami-Dade County Certificate of Use (CU):

• This is a critical requirement for properties in unincorporated Miami-Dade County. While Miami Gardens is a municipality, investors should verify if their specific property falls within city limits or unincorporated county pockets. Apply through the county portal: Miami-Dade County Certificate of Use Application.
• The process includes an application fee, a mandatory property inspection, and an annual renewal at the same cost.

III. Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

To comply with all levels of government, the following are required:

City of Miami Gardens Requirements (from application):

• Proof of Ownership.
• Ownership Affidavit (if submitted by an authorized representative).
• Fully dimensioned floor plan layout showing the number of bedrooms.
• Maximum Occupancy Certificate and Fire Inspection Report from Miami-Dade County Fire Department.
• Property Survey showing all structures and identifying parking spaces.
• Notarized Affidavit of Compliance from the homeowner's association/condominium board (if applicable).
• Proof of State Tax Registration (FL DOR) for sales/transient rental taxes.
• Proof of State License (FL DBPR) for transient public lodging establishment.
• Certificate of Insurance: (1) Homeowners fire, hazard & liability insurance; (2) General commercial liability insurance with at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.
• Notarized Statement on whether the entire property or just a portion will be used as an STR.
• Notarized Statement acknowledging compliance with all local, state, and federal laws.
• Permit Fee: $500.00 (permit) + $150.00 (inspection) = $650.00 total per unit.

Miami-Dade County Requirements (for properties in unincorporated areas):

• Certificate of Use (CU): Fee $36.70, Inspection Fee $89.97 + $9.50 surcharge (total $136.17).
• Registration for Tourist Tax Account: Mandatory for collecting and remitting monthly Convention and Tourist Development taxes.

State of Florida Requirements:

• License from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
• Registration with the Florida Department of Revenue for tax purposes.

IV. Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

Compliance is mandatory at the city, county, and state levels. Key regulations include:

City of Miami Gardens Ordinances (Chapter 6, Article IV):

• Parking: All vehicles must park within a driveway on the property. Parking on the swale, across the sidewalk, or on adjacent lots is prohibited.
• Noise: Must comply with the City Noise Ordinance (Section 16-25).
• Solid Waste: Trash containers must be placed at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on pickup day and removed by 7:00 p.m. the same day. The property must be free of garbage, junk, and litter.
• Criminal Activity: The responsible party must not permit any criminal activity or public nuisance and must immediately cooperate with law enforcement if aware of such activities.
• Responsible Party Availability: Must be able to respond in person within one hour and be available 24/7 to address issues.

Miami-Dade County Regulations (Section 33-28):

• Maximum Occupancy: Up to 2 persons per bedroom, plus 2 additional persons per property, up to a maximum of 12 persons (excluding children under 3).
• Responsible Party Residency (for properties in Estate or Low Density Residential areas only): The Responsible Party must reside in the property for more than six months per calendar year. This restriction does not apply in other land use categories.
• Sexual Offender/Predator Checks: Mandatory confirmation that prospective guests are not registered sexual offenders or predators. Additional restrictions apply if the property is within 2,500 feet of a school.
• Swimming Pool Safety: If there is a pool, at least one safety feature listed in Florida Statute 515.27 must be in place before any guest under the age of six uses the property.
• General Compliance: Must also adhere to regulations regarding solid waste, noise, public nuisance, parking, advertising, and pets, in addition to all other applicable laws.

State Regulations:

• Must comply with all state laws regarding public lodging establishments and tax collection.

V. Contact Information

For inquiries and compliance, contact the relevant authorities directly:

City of Miami Gardens

• Phone: 305-622-8000
• Hours: 7:00am - 7:00pm, Monday - Thursday
• Address: 18605 NW 27th Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
• STR Registration Support (Avenu Insights):
  • Phone: (866) 240-3665
  • Email: supportmuni@avenuinsights.com
  • Payment Address: STR Permitting Dept, PO Box 830725, Birmingham AL 35283-0725

Miami-Dade County

• Certificate of Use (CU) Inquiries: For questions about the CU process and inspections.
• Neighborhood Regulations Division: 786-315-2552
• 311 Contact Center: For general county services and to report violations.

State of Florida

• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): For licensing inquiries.
• Florida Department of Revenue (DOR): For tax registration and remittance.

VI. Links to Source Pages

• City of Miami Gardens - Short Term Rental Registration (Source 1)
• Miami-Dade County - Short-Term Vacation Rentals (Source 2)
• City of Miami Gardens - Vacation Rental License Application (Source 3)
• Miami-Dade County - Certificate of Use (CU) Application Portal (Link from Source 2)
• City of Miami Gardens - Short Term Rentals Portal (Avenu) (Link from Source 1)