The City of Plantation recently passed Ordinance No.2576, which establishes registration, inspection, minimum property maintenance, and safety regulations for short term rental properties. This Ordinance aims to preserve the health, peace, safety, and welfare of the citizens through registering short term rental (STR) property in the City. The following is a complete guideline for Plantation’s short term rental regulations so that anyone can be a responsible host when using platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and other similar services. This rundown should give you a good start in understanding your local laws.
Short Term Vacation Rental Certificate
Property owners must apply for an STR Certificate of Compliance for each dwelling unit they rent out as a short term rental. After September 1, 2019, the operation of an STR without registration and a certificate of compliance is prohibited in the City of Plantation.
The City has provided the documents below to familiarize property owners with short term rental regulations and standards, approval procedures, and steps to acquire the relevant State and County certificates/licenses.
Under Ordinance No. 2576, the City has established two categories of STR facilities: Owner-Occupied Short Term Rentals and Vacation Rentals. They are defined as follows:
Owner-Occupied Short Term Rentals (Hosted)
Any unit or group of units rented to transients more than three times a year for periods of less than thirty days, or one calendar month, whichever is less. It is a dwelling unit which is:
- Advertised to the public as a place frequently rented to transients.
- In a condominium or cooperative or individually or collectively owned single-family, two-family, three-family, or four-family house or dwelling unit.
- It is occupied by the short term rental owner.
- Has the short term rental owner or tenant been on-site during the rental period.
In the event that an entity owns the owner-occupied short term rental, occupancy of the short term rental owner may be fulfilled if the property is occupied by the president, manager, managing partner, or any other individual with complete control over the owner entity’s operations.
Likewise, if a trust owns the owner-occupied short term rental, occupancy by the vacation rental owner may be fulfilled if a trust beneficiary occupies the property.
Owner-Occupied STR Registration Requirements.
Owner-Occupied STR Rental Registration Checklist.
Vacation Rental (Non-Hosted)
Any unit or group of units rented transients more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than thirty days, or one calendar month, whichever is less. It is a dwelling unit which is:
- Advertised to the public as a place frequently rented to transients.
- In a condominium or cooperative or individually owned single-family, two-family, three-family, or four-family house or dwelling unit.
- Also, a transient public lodging establishment as defined by Florida Statutes Chapter 509 but is not a timeshare project regulated by Florida Statutes Chapter 721.
Vacation Rental Registration Requirements.
Vacation Rental Registration Checklist.
Apply Online
By August 31 of each year, all Short Term Rentals Registration Certificate of Compliance holders must apply for their Certificate of Compliance renewal.
Renewals received after August 31 will be charged a late renewal fee, and renewals received after September 30 will be treated as new applications and subject to all relevant fees.
STR Property Compliance Inspection
Prior to the initial issue of a Short Term Rental Certificate of Compliance, non-hosted “Vacation Rental” units must be inspected. However, inspecting a hosted “Owner-Occupied Short Term Rental” is unnecessary before issuing an STR Certificate of Compliance.
The City’s Building, Fire and Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Departments shall conduct a safety inspection of the rental unit by appointment only, in accordance with Ordinance No. 2576. In case they find any violations, the unit must be re-inspected. Property owners or agents must correct all violations before a Short Term Rental Certificate of Compliance can be issued.
The property owner or the property owner’s agent of record must request the inspection. Failure to grant access to the Building, Fire and Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Departments on time will result in a $250 re-inspection cost.
Vacation Rental Property Inspection Guide.
Vacation Rental Property Inspection Checklist.
STR Vacation Rental Registration & Inspection Fee Schedule
| Description | Fee | |
| Owner-Occupied STR | Vacation Rental | |
| Registration Fee | $125 | $250 |
| Renewal Fee | $125 | $250 |
| Late Renewal Fee | $175 | $300 |
| Safety Inspection Fee | N/A | $100 |
| Safety Re-Inspection Fee | N/A | $250 |
| Amendment of Application Fee | $25 | $50 |
Note: Fees are per dwelling unit. N/A: Not Applicable.
Other Regulations
As a responsible host, you must comprehend and abide by other vacation rental rules and regulations that bind you. These include leases, community rules, HOA rules, or other guidelines set up by tenant associations. Feel free to reach out to your landlord, housing authority, or community council to find out more. To get more information about other short term rental regulations, you can also visit Plantation’s official website or contact us.