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

Yes—short-term rentals (also called “vacation rentals”) are allowed in Seminole County, subject to county registration and operational standards. Under Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b), local governments may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate their duration or frequency. Seminole County enforces registration, safety, occupancy, parking, noise, trash/bear management, and advertising requirements for vacation rentals operating in unincorporated Seminole County. Most cities within Seminole County have their own rules; if your property lies within municipal limits, you must comply with the city’s ordinance in addition to any applicable state requirements.

Reference: Seminole County Vacation Rental Ordinance No. 2020-14; Florida Statutes Chapter 509.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Seminole County

Follow these steps to launch and maintain a compliant vacation rental in unincorporated Seminole County:

1. Confirm jurisdictional requirements

• Determine whether your property is inside a municipality or in unincorporated Seminole County. If inside a city (e.g., Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Lake Mary), you must follow that city’s vacation rental ordinance in addition to state law.

2. Secure all required licenses and registrations

• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) license for “Transient Public Lodging Establishment – Vacation Rental” (F.S. 509.242).
• Florida Department of Revenue registration for sales taxes, tourist development taxes, and any other state taxes applicable to transient rentals (F.S. 509.013).
• Local business tax receipt (business tax certificate) from Seminole County Tax Collector (Seminole County Code Chapter 45, Part 1).

3. Register with the County’s third‑party vendor

• Register your vacation rental through Seminole County’s authorized third‑party registry before beginning operations (Ord. 30.1374).
• Acknowledge compliance with occupancy, parking, noise, solid waste, bear management (if applicable), and sexual offender proximity restrictions.
• Submit proof of DBPR license, Florida Department of Revenue registration, and local tourism tax account number (or proof a peer‑to‑peer platform will remit taxes on your behalf).

4. Comply with minimum safety and operational standards

• Maintain accurate occupancy limits, fire safety equipment, emergency information posting, responsible‑party contact, and parking arrangements.
• Post an interior notice with emergency information and provide a Transient Occupant Information binder with county regulations (noise, parking, bear management if in the Urban Bear Management Area, etc.).

5. Operate continuously in compliance

• Ensure guests comply with posted rules; enforce quiet hours (11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.), off‑street parking only in designated spaces, trash and recycling schedules, and bear‑safe practices in the Urban Bear Management Area.
• Maintain a signed rental agreement for each tenancy acknowledging local rules and penalties.

6. Renew annually

• Annual renewal with the third‑party vendor is required (Ord. 30.1374(e)).

References: Seminole County Ordinance No. 2020-14; F.S. ch. 509; Seminole County Code Chapter 45, Part 1.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Minimum documentation and compliance items for vacation rentals in Seminole County include:

• DBPR license number for a Transient Public Lodging Establishment – Vacation Rental (F.S. 509.242).
• Florida Department of Revenue registration (for collection/remittance of sales taxes and transient rental taxes).
• Local tourism tax account number from the Seminole County Office of the Tax Collector, or proof a peer‑to‑peer platform will remit local tourism taxes on your behalf.
• Local business tax receipt (Seminole County Code Chapter 45, Part 1).
• Completed registration with the County’s third‑party vendor, including:
  • Affidavit of compliance and acknowledgments (occupancy, parking, noise, solid waste, urban bear management, sexual offender restrictions).
  • For rentals with five or more bedrooms, a survey/scaled sketch/photo showing parking space locations on the same parcel and any reserved off‑site spaces.
  • For shared‑facility parking (condo/co‑op/HOA/mixed‑use), a notarized letter from the association/manager confirming specific spaces reserved for the vacation rental, with supporting site plan documentation.
  • Signed rental agreement to be provided to transient occupants acknowledging local rules, parking locations, maximum occupancy, noise and solid waste regulations, bear management requirements (if applicable), and penalties.
  • Acknowledgments of homestead exemption risk if applicable.

Interior postings and safety

• Emergency Information poster on the refrigerator door, main egress door, and inside all sleeping rooms, including: full street address, location of telephone for 911, responsible party’s 24/7 phone number, and location of the “Transient Occupant Information” binder.
• Transient Occupant Information binder next to the main common area telephone, including the county noise ordinance, parking requirements, solid waste rules, bear management map and rules (if in the Urban Bear Management Area), responsible party phone number, parking graphic, and nearby hospitals/clinics.

Safety equipment and information

• Local telephone service in the main common area, clearly marked as the emergency contact (capable of calling 911).
• At least one fully charged, portable, multi‑purpose dry chemical ABC fire extinguisher on each floor in a centrally marked location near sleeping rooms.
• At least one Class K fire extinguisher in a centrally marked location near the kitchen.

Reference: Seminole County Ordinance No. 2020-14 (Sections 30.1374–30.1376).

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals in Seminole County

Occupancy

• Maximum: two persons per sleeping room. Additionally, up to four children under age 13 may stay overnight and are not counted against the maximum occupancy.
• Non‑overnight guests may not exceed two times the maximum overnight occupancy.

Noise

• Quiet hours: 11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. (Chapter 165, Seminole County Code of Ordinances; Section 30.1302, Land Development Code).
• Post quiet hours and other relevant rules inside the unit and in the binder.

Parking

• Minimum of two off‑street spaces on the same parcel as the vacation rental.
• For each sleeping room in excess of four, one additional parking space is required (two spaces for the first four sleeping rooms, plus one per additional sleeping room).
• In single‑family/duplex/multi‑family units, the minimum two spaces must be on the same parcel. Additional spaces beyond the minimum two may be on another parcel via a notarized agreement from that parcel’s owner, with signage and a safe pedestrian path to the rental.
• In condominiums, cooperatives, HOAs, apartments, or mixed‑use buildings with shared parking, at least two spaces for the first two sleeping rooms and one additional space per additional sleeping room must be specifically reserved and marked for the rental; documentation of reservation/marking must be provided with registration.
• Spaces must meet minimum net area, length, and width standards. No parking in drainage swales, public sidewalks, street rights‑of‑way (where not permitted), or pedestrian/bicycle/hiking paths.

Urban Bear Management Area (if applicable)

• If the rental is located within the Urban Bear Management Area, comply with bear‑resistant residential refuse container requirements and the prohibition on feeding bears (Chapter 258, Seminole County Code of Ordinances).

Sexual offender/predator restrictions

• Rental occupancy must comply with Seminole County Code Chapter 228.7 (sexual offenders and sexual predators; prohibition on rentals/leaseholds).

Structures that do not qualify

• Sheds without utilities or adequate size, campers/RVs, tents, and unmodified shipping containers may not be used as vacation rentals.

Inspections and enforcement

• The County may conduct inspections upon reasonable indication of non‑compliance. Violations are addressed under County code enforcement procedures (Ord. 30.1376; Seminole County Code Sections 53.14 and 53.24).

Registration validity and renewal

• Registration is valid for one year from approval and must be renewed annually.
• Changes in ownership/responsible party, sleeping room counts, or parking spaces require updated registration through the vendor portal; some changes (e.g., change of responsible party and parking updates) may be submitted without an additional fee.

References: Seminole County Ordinance No. 2020-14; F.S. ch. 509; Seminole County Code Chapters 165 (Noise), 235 (Solid Waste), 228 (Sexual Offenders/Predators), 258 (Urban Bear Management).

Contact Information

Use the following contacts for vacation rental registration, enforcement, and tax matters:

• Seminole County Sheriff’s Office – Code Violation Reporting

  • Phone: (407) 665-6650
  • Online reporting: www.seminolesheriff.org/forms/ReportCodeViolation.aspx

• Seminole County Code Enforcement (Code Enforcement Officer)

  • Phone: (407) 665-6650 (for filing complaints; general info)
  • Website: www.seminolesheriff.org/forms/ReportCodeViolation.aspx
  • Notes: Complaints of violations of the Vacation Rental ordinance are filed with the Code Enforcement Officer; enforcement is conducted per County procedures.

• Seminole County Tax Collector – Local Business Tax Receipt (Business Tax Certificate)

  • Phone: (407) 665-1000
  • Website: www.seminolecountytaxcollector.gov

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

  • Phone: (850) 487-1395
  • Website: www.myfloridalicense.com

• Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) – Sales/Use and Tourist Development Taxes

  • Phone: (800) 352-3671 (in Florida) or (850) 488-6800
  • Website: floridarevenue.com

Reference links for local authorities and forms are included below.

Links to Source Pages

• Seminole County Vacation Rental Ordinance No. 2020-14:

  • www.seminolecountyfl.gov/docs/default-source/pdf/Vacation-Rental-Ordinance_2020_14.pdf

• Seminole County Sheriff – Report a Code Violation:

  • www.seminolesheriff.org/forms/ReportCodeViolation.aspx

• Seminole County Tax Collector:

  • www.seminolecountytaxcollector.gov

• Florida DBPR (Transient Public Lodging – Vacation Rental):

  • www.myfloridalicense.com

• Florida Department of Revenue (Tourist Development Tax and Sales Tax):

  • floridarevenue.com

Notes for investors

• Seminole County’s rules apply in unincorporated areas. If your property is inside a municipality, you must also satisfy the city’s registration/permitting, inspection, and operational requirements.
• Florida law preempts local governments from banning vacation rentals or regulating rental duration/frequency; however, counties may regulate safety, occupancy, parking, registration, noise, and related operational matters.