STR rules · verified 1mo ago
Short-term rental rules in Lee County, FL
Lee County FL (Fort Myers metro umbrella; includes unincorporated barrier-island enclaves Captiva, North Captiva, Pine Island, parts of Estero, Bonita Springs adjoining, Buckingham, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel-Captiva corridor unincorporated fragments) levies a 5% Tourist Development Tax administered by the Lee County Clerk of Court Inspector General Department on rentals of six months or less, stacking with 6% Florida state sales tax + 0.5% county discretionary surtax for an effective 11.5% lodging tax burden. Lee County does not operate a county-wide short-term vacation rental registration program separate from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Vacation Rental Dwelling license; siting is governed by the Lee County Land Development Code where weekly rentals are permitted in most residential zones outside Sanibel city limits. Hurricane Ian (September 28, 2022, Category 4) devastated Captiva, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, and North Captiva with 150 mph winds and 10-15 ft storm surge; rental inventory remained materially impaired through 2024-2025 and many condo complexes were still closed for repair. Florida Statute 509.032(7) preempts Lee County from banning STRs or capping nightly frequency/duration absent a pre-June-2011 ordinance.
What's behind the sign-in
- Registration fees — initial + annual renewal cost, per permit type
- Permit caps + waitlists — exact cap values, current waitlist counts
- Owner-occupancy rules — days/year requirement, permit-class splits
- Zoning carve-outs — which districts allow / disallow STR
- Tax stack — TOT, hotel, county + state layers
- Stay limits — min/max nightly, max nights/year
- Operational requirements — parking, insurance, fire inspection, neighbor notice
- Penalties — per-night fines, revocation thresholds
- City-specific gotchas — HOA carve-outs, pending legislation, recent court rulings
- Refresh on demand — re-run the agentic pipeline against the city's current ordinance
Frequently asked
Are short-term rentals legal in Lee County, FL?
Lee County is currently restricted for short-term rentals. Permitted but with material constraints — caps, owner-occupancy rules, zoning carve-outs, or active ordinance review. For the actual fees, caps, owner-occupancy rules, and city-specific gotchas, sign in.
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Lee County?
Almost certainly yes — almost every U.S. city now requires a short-term rental permit, vacation rental permit, or transient lodging permit before you can legally list. The specifics for Lee County (cost, renewal cycle, required documents) are behind sign-in. You can also read the source ordinance directly: https://www.leeclerk.org/departments/inspector-general/tourist-development-tax.
What happens if I rent without a permit in Lee County?
Most cities charge per-night fines (a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per violation), escalating to cease-and-desist letters and platform delisting on repeat. Airbnb and Vrbo now share permit-validation feeds with most major cities, so unpermitted listings get blocked at the platform level. Sign in to see the specific penalty schedule for Lee County.
How current is this data for Lee County?
This record was verified 1mo ago against the city's published ordinance (.gov or the city's official municipal-code publisher). Cached cities re-verify on a cadence — daily for cities under active legislation, weekly otherwise. Signed-in users can hit Refresh on any city to force a fresh pull. If you're underwriting a deal, always confirm against the city's code-enforcement office before closing.
Can my HOA or condo association ban STRs even if Lee County allows them?
Yes. City permits authorize you under municipal law, but your HOA, condo association, or co-op board sets contractual rules that override the city for your unit. Many HOAs adopted blanket STR bans between 2018 and 2024 in response to neighbor complaints. Read the CC&Rs, bylaws, and rental addendums before you buy with an STR plan — the city saying yes does not mean your building says yes.