Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Fort Myers Beach allows short-term rentals, but enforcement is strict. Every operator must register the unit with the Town through the Rentalscape portal under Ordinance 18-01 and Division 32-A of the Land Development Code. Registration costs $300 per unit and renews annually. Paper applications and checks are no longer accepted. Before approval, the property must pass a fire-life-safety inspection by the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District, and condo units must submit an HOA opt-out letter and bylaws certification. Owners also need a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling License, which carries a $150 state fee. Operators must collect and remit a combined 11.5 percent tax: Florida sales tax at 6 percent, Lee County discretionary sales surtax at 0.5 percent (in effect through December 2028), and Lee County Tourist Development Tax at 5 percent on stays of six months or less. Properties are assigned to weekly or monthly rental zones tied to specific streets and neighborhoods. Weekly zones allow one rental per week. Monthly zones allow one rental per month with a minimum one week stay. The Town sets the designation and the owner cannot change it, so the same address may not be eligible for nightly rentals. Owner occupancy and primary residence are not required, and there is no annual cap on rental nights. A 24-hour violations hotline at 239-944-3956 routes complaints to Town code enforcement and a special magistrate, and violations can lead to fines, suspension, or revocation of registration. Operators must also follow the Town Code of Conduct covering noise, parking, trash, and maximum occupancy.