West Palm Beach, FL Short-Term Rental Checklist (Free, Printable)

📋 The Basics

Can I rent my place short-term here?: Yes, with a permit
Do I need a permit?: Yes. Every rental needs a city Certificate of Use with a zoning review and inspection.
What taxes do I pay?: Total about 12.5%. Airbnb collects some; you pay Palm Beach County's 6% tourist tax yourself.

Your 3 steps to be legal

Get a Florida state rental license (DBPR) and sign up for Florida sales tax.
Sign up for Palm Beach County tourist tax.
Get the city Certificate of Use (and name a local agent if you live outside the county).

⚠️ Biggest risk: Forgetting the county tourist tax, which Airbnb doesn't collect here.

Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.

This is the general rule for West Palm Beach. Does your address qualify?

The free info covers the city as a whole. Your property can still be different: zoning can change from one street to the next, and an HOA or condo ban can stop rentals even where the city allows them.

Your $49 Compliance Check looks at your exact property:

Whether your exact address and zone allow short-term rentals
A check of HOA / condo rental restrictions to look for
Which permits and tax accounts you personally need
What you're missing right now
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Permit / license / registration

State license (Florida DBPR): Florida DBPR vacation rental / transient public lodging license (homestead room-rental exemptions may apply).
Rental license: Every rental unit, including Airbnb-style short-term rentals, needs a city Rental Tax Application / Certificate of Use with zoning review and a code compliance inspection (fire inspection for 3+ units under one roof).
State license: If the property will be a vacation rental, the city application requires proof of your Florida DBPR vacation rental license.
Resident agent: Owners who don't live in Palm Beach County must designate a local resident agent (City Code Sec. 22-31).

Zoning, where allowed & definitions

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Night limits, minimum stays & occupancy

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Fees, penalties & pending changes

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Taxes & who collects them

Register / account for FL state sales tax (6%)
Register / account for Palm Beach County surtax (0.5%)
Register / account for Local tourist/transient taxes (6%)
What Airbnb collects: Airbnb collects state 6% + 0.5% surtax only. Palm Beach County's 6% tourist development tax is NOT on Airbnb's list: register and file it yourself with the Palm Beach County Tax Collector.
Vrbo and direct bookings: check which taxes Vrbo collects in your area; for direct bookings you collect and remit all of them yourself.
Mandatory cleaning fees charged to guests are taxable as part of the rental (state, surtax and tourist tax). Only an optional, separately itemized fee the guest can decline is excluded (FL Admin. Code 12A-1.061).

Total rate: 12.5%. Palm Beach County surtax is 0.5% for 2026 (1% infrastructure surtax ended Dec 31, 2025; 0.5% school surtax runs 2026-2035, per FL DOR). County tourist development tax 6% (DOR DR-15TDT). Calculate.

HOA / condo check

Read your declaration, bylaws and rules for rental bans, minimum terms, caps and approval requirements.
Get any association sign-off or approval letter your city or association requires.
See our HOA & condo guide.

Insurance

Confirm your homeowner/condo policy covers short-term rental use, or add a short-term rental policy. Platform host protection is not a substitute for insurance.
Ask your association whether it requires specific liability coverage.

Deadlines

Renew city/county permits or registrations on their schedule (often annually): confirm the date with the office that issued it.
Florida sales and transient rental tax returns: due the 1st, late after the 20th of the month after the reporting period.
Property tax dates: see Florida deadlines.

Official sources

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Is my West Palm Beach rental legal? Checklist