Miami Dade County’s Definition of Short-Term (Airbnb) Rental (STR)
Miami Dade County defines short-term rentals as any unit or residence rented to an occupant for less than 30 days or one calendar month. This definition remains irrespective of how you find occupants: through peer-to-peer platforms or realtors.
An Investors Guide to Owning a Vacation Rental in Miami Dade County
Miami Dade County has regulations governing the ownership of short-term (Airbnb) rentals in unincorporated areas. The County’s 34 municipalities have their own sets of rules to regulate the ownership of vacation properties.
The below rules apply to those unincorporated areas. You’ll also find municipality-specific rules for some of Miami Dade County’s most sought-after locations below.
Limitations, Zoning Restrictions, and Occupancy Limits on Vacation Rental Properties in Miami Dade County
There are no restrictions to how many vacation rental properties an investor can own in Miami-Dade County. While there aren’t short-term rental ownership restrictions, Miami Dade County does restrict where owners can operate a short-term (Airbnb) rental and the number of occupants allowed on a property.
Vacation rentals are restricted to areas designated to:
- Residential Communities
- Business and Office
- Office Residential
These designations can be found County’s Comprehensive Development Master Plan Land Use Plan Map.
Furthermore, in Miami-Dade County, short-term (Airbnb) rental occupants are restricted to a maximum of two occupants per room, and two additional occupants per property, with a maximum of 12 people on a property, excluding three years and under.
The Cost of Setting up a Short-Term (Airbnb) Vacation Rental in Miami-Dade County
To ascertain how much you’ll need to budget for each short-term rental property you let in Miami Dade County, you’ll need to take into consideration: taxes, insurance, and registration.
Taxes for Miami Dade County Short-Term (Airbnb) Rentals
Miami Dade County collects a 3 percent convention Development Tax on short-term rental properties, in addition to 2 percent for a Tourist Development Tax and 1 percent for a Sports Franchise Tax.
Owners of short-term (Airbnb) rentals in Miami Dade County will also be subject to Florida’s 6 percent sales tax for “living quarters… [and] accommodations for rental periods six months or less.”
Owners must have the state’s Department of Revenue Certificate of Registration (Form DR-11) displayed at the short-term property and must pay Florida’s sales tax on the short-term (Airbnb) rental property. Failure to do so is illegal.
Thankfully, Airbnb remits state sales tax on an owner’s behalf.
Insurance for Miami Dade County Short-Term (Airbnb) Rentals
Miami Dade County does not mandate any specific insurance for a short-term rental; however, a realtor or real estate agent may suggest applicable insurance to reduce the risk associated with renting to transient tenants.
Registration and Licensing for Miami Dade County Short-Term (Airbnb) Rentals
The responsible party (the individual in charge of managing the short-term rental) must obtain a Certificate of Use (CU) from Miami Dade County before they can legally advertise or list short-term rental stays on peer-to-peer platforms.
The total cost to obtain a CU is $136.17.
- This cost entails:
- $36.70 for the certificate
- $89.97 for the mandatory inspection (which must be conducted within ten business days of application)
- $9.50 surcharge
These are annual fees, requiring short-term (Airbnb) rental accommodations to be inspected every year before the CU expires.
Responsible Party Requirements in Miami Dade County
Short-term rentals in areas designated as Estate or Low-Density Residential on the CDMP Land Use Plan Map must reside on the property for six months every calendar year and can occur while the property has vacation rental occupants.
In addition, Miami Dade County requires a responsible party to:
Before occupation, provide occupants a written notice detailing applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations, including those governing noise, use of communal areas, vehicle parking, public nuisance, and solid waste collection.
- Notify prospective transient tenants about disability access.
- Notify the HOA or condominium/cooperative association or board that the property will be used as a short-term rental property, as applicable.
- Ensure occupants comply with the Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances Section 33-28, and report any violation of the Ordinance to law enforcement or the relevant Department and the peer-to-peer platform.
- Be available 24/7 to resolve violations regarding the short-term vacation rental.
