Executive overview

• Are STRs allowed in southwest-venice, FL? Yes. Short-term rentals are permitted in the unincorporated southwest Venice area, which lies in Sarasota County. In Sarasota County, rentals for fewer than 7 days in residential zoning districts are not permitted. Two key steps are required at the county level: a county vacation rental certificate (where applicable) and compliance with tax collection and remittance obligations.
• This guide explains how to launch and operate compliantly, which permits/licenses you need, the specific rules that apply in Sarasota County, tax rates and filing, safety requirements, contacts for the relevant agencies, and links to authoritative sources.

Important jurisdictional note

• Southwest Venice is in unincorporated Sarasota County; county rules apply rather than city-of-Venice rules. Sarasota County’s residential zoning minimum-stay rule (7 days/7 nights) is the key constraint for investors planning short stays in residential areas.

How to start a short-term rental business in this market

• Treat STRs as a licensed lodging business:
  • Obtain a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) vacation rental license if you rent out a property for more than three times per year for stays under 30 days. Choose either:
    • Vacation Rental – Dwelling License (for single-family, duplex, triplex, quadruplex), or
    • Vacation Rental – Condominium License (for condos/co-ops).
  • File a DBPR application and pay the $50 application fee plus licensing fees (varies by county and number of units). Licenses renew annually.
• Register with the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) to collect and remit the 6% state sales tax and any county discretionary sales surtax.
• Comply with Sarasota County’s local rules:
  • If your property is a single-, two-, three-, or four-family dwelling in residential zoning districts, obtain a Sarasota County vacation rental certificate (current program requires the certificate for such dwellings).
  • Collect and remit the county transient rental (tourist development) tax and file monthly returns.
• Insurance and liability:
  • Short-term rental use is a business activity; standard homeowners policies typically exclude coverage. Obtain a short-term rental policy with liability protection and property damage coverage. Many cities and counties now expect at least $1 million in liability coverage (e.g., Hollywood, FL requires $1 million).
• Safety and inspections:
  • Meet Florida’s safety standards and display your license at the property.
  • If you have a balcony three stories or higher, complete a Certificate of Balcony Inspection (DBPR HR-7020) and renew every three years.
  • Provide smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors where applicable, a fire extinguisher, and any pool safety compliance as required.
• Operational setup:
  • Design your listing to reflect the 7-night minimum stay for residential zoning.
  • Collect and remit state sales tax, county tourist development tax, and any discretionary surtax.
  • Create guest rules that address noise, parking, trash, and occupancy to minimize complaints.
  • Maintain all required documents and renewals: DBPR license (annual), balcony certificate (every 3 years), and county filings.
• Go-live checklist:
  • DBPR license obtained and posted on premises.
  • DOR tax account set up; filing cadence established.
  • County certificate (if required) obtained and displayed.
  • Transient rental tax account/registration completed.
  • Insurance policy in force with adequate limits.
  • Safety equipment installed and documented.
  • House rules and emergency contact information posted for guests.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• State-level requirements
  • DBPR Vacation Rental License:
    • Vacation Rental – Dwelling License (houses, duplexes, triplexes, quadruplexes) or Vacation Rental – Condominium License (condos/co-ops).
    • Application includes: property details, owner information, a balcony inspection certificate if applicable, proof of human trafficking awareness training for housekeeping employees (as applicable), and the $50 application fee.
    • License is valid for one year; renewal required annually.
  • Florida DOR registration:
    • Register to collect and remit the 6% state sales tax and any county discretionary sales surtax.
  • Human trafficking awareness training:
    • Required for employees performing housekeeping duties (e.g., cleaning staff).
• County-level requirements (Sarasota County)
  • Vacation Rental Certificate:
    • Required for single-, two-, three-, and four-family dwellings; valid for 2 years; renewed every odd-numbered year. Not required for owner-occupied rentals.
  • Business Tax Receipt:
    • A local business tax receipt may be required to operate. Confirm with the County Tax Collector whether this applies to your activity.
  • Transient rental tax:
    • Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax is collected on short-term rentals; file monthly tax returns with the county. Rate summary provided below.
• Insurance and safety
  • Short-term rental insurance policy with liability and property coverage; $1 million minimum liability is commonly expected in Florida municipalities.
  • Safety compliance: smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher, and (if applicable) pool safety compliance. For balconies three or more stories high: Certificate of Balcony Inspection (Form DBPR HR-7020), renewed every three years.
• Documentation to display and retain
  • DBPR license displayed on the premises.
  • Sarasota County vacation rental certificate (if applicable) displayed.
  • Emergency contact information posted for guests.
  • Guest rules (noise, parking, trash, occupancy) in a conspicuous location.
  • All tax records, filings, and insurance proof retained.

Specific regulations for short-term rentals in this city, county, and state

• State of Florida
  • Definition: Any single-family home, duplex, triplex, quadruplex, condominium, or cooperative unit rented for less than 30 days qualifies as a short-term rental.
  • Licensing: Required if renting out the property more than three times per year for stays under 30 days.
  • Safety: Display license at the property; complete balcony inspections (3+ stories); provide basic safety equipment.
  • Taxes: Collect and remit state sales tax (6%) and any discretionary sales surtax (county-specific).
• Sarasota County (applies to southwest Venice)
  • Minimum stay: STRs for fewer than 7 days in residential zoning districts are not permitted.
  • Vacation Rental Certificate:
    • Required for single-, two-, three-, and four-family dwellings; valid for 2 years; renewed in odd-numbered years; not required for owner-occupied rentals.
  • Taxes: Tourist Development Tax applies; the total state and local effective rate for STRs is approximately 13% in Sarasota County (6% state sales tax + 6% county tourist development tax + 1% discretionary sales surtax).
  • Enforcement: County-level compliance and tax collection, with fines for violations (e.g., non-compliance and failure to pay can trigger county code enforcement actions and penalties).
• City of Venice (context)
  • Southwest Venice is unincorporated; municipal zoning and permitting generally do not apply. If operating within the city limits, confirm any city-specific Business Tax Receipt requirements and any additional rules that may affect your operation.
• General Florida context (neighboring restrictions)
  • Some Florida cities have stricter rules than statewide standards (e.g., Miami Beach prohibits most STRs in residential zones; Clearwater Beach has a 31-day minimum in most residential areas; St. Petersburg limits non-owner-occupied STRs outside resort zones to 3 rentals per year). While these do not apply directly to southwest Venice, they illustrate the stricter regimes common in coastal markets.

Taxes: rates and filing

• State tax
  • Florida State Sales Tax: 6% of gross rental receipts.
  • Discretionary Sales Surtax (Sarasota County): 1%.
• County transient rental tax (Sarasota County)
  • Tourist Development Tax: 6% of the rental price.
  • Effective combined rate: ~13% for STRs in Sarasota County (6% + 6% + 1%).
• Filing cadence
  • Monthly returns are typically required. Even when a platform collects certain taxes (e.g., Airbnb or Vrbo), hosts remain responsible for verifying collection/remittance and filing county returns as required.

Safety requirements and inspections

• Florida safety basics
  • Property must be clean, safe, and properly maintained with working utilities and adequate ventilation.
  • Smoke detectors in all bedrooms; carbon monoxide detectors where gas appliances exist.
  • Fire extinguisher installed and accessible.
  • Pool safety compliance where applicable.
• Balcony inspections (3+ stories)
  • Certificate of Balcony Inspection (DBPR HR-7020) must be completed and renewed every three years.
• Inspections
  • STRs typically operate without routine opening inspections but are subject to complaint-based inspections by the county and state agencies.

Fines and penalties (what to avoid)

• Common violations and consequences
  • Operating without a DBPR license: fines can reach $1,000 per violation, with possible license suspension or revocation.
  • Failing to collect/remit taxes: tax penalties and interest, possible legal action and audits.
  • County-level violations (minimum stay, certificate, or compliance issues): code enforcement fines, penalties, and legal actions.

Contact information for local authority in charge of STRs

• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) – Vacation Rental Licensing
  • Phone: (850) 487-1395
  • Website: MyFloridaLicense.com (look for “Vacation Rental” licensing)
• Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) – State sales tax registration and filing
  • Phone: (850) 488-6800
  • Website: FlRevenue.com
• Sarasota County – Tax Collector (for local business tax receipt and transient rental tax)
  • Phone: (941) 861-8300
  • Website: SCGov.net
• Sarasota County – Planning & Development (for zoning, safety, and compliance questions)
  • Phone: (941) 861-5000
  • Website: SCGov.net
• Charlotte County – Split-jurisdiction reference (if you have holdings in the Englewood area that straddle counties)
  • Tax Collector: (941) 743-1350
  • Website: CharlotteCountyFL.gov

Links to source pages (important)

• Florida statewide STR rules and permitting, licensing, taxes, insurance, and municipal comparisons: hometeamluxuryrentals.com/blog/florida-airbnb-laws
• Split-jurisdiction context and local rules (Englewood—Charlotte vs. Sarasota), including Sarasota County minimum-stay and certificate program: local.theoffersheet.com/legal/englewood-fl-short-term-rental-regulations-your-complete-airbnb-host-guide/
• Property management and short-term rental operator insights (Venice and southwest Florida): horseandchaise.com/tenants/

Strategic investor takeaway

• Southwest Venice (Sarasota County) is a viable STR market with clear compliance pathways: obtain the DBPR license, register for state and county taxes, and—if applicable—secure the Sarasota County vacation rental certificate. The 7-night minimum stay in residential zoning materially shapes the product: orient listings, pricing, and operations to weekly stays rather than nightly stays. Focus on beach-proximate inventory, invest in robust safety and hurricane preparedness, and maintain meticulous tax compliance and certificate renewals to avoid penalties and protect your investment.