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/STAY · LOCAL RULES · KEY WEST, FL

Key West transient rental rules

In Key West, renting a home for 28 days or less is "transient" use, and it's only legal with a city transient license, in the zones that allow it. New licenses are capped, so most hosts buy a transfer from another property.

Checked on Nov 12 2026 against the official pages below

The three things to know

PERMIT

A city transient license (business tax receipt) renewed every year with a fire marshal inspection, your Florida DBPR license and state tax number. Allowed only in HRCC-1, HRCC-3, HCT, HNC-1 and HNC-3. New licenses are capped; moving one from another property costs $6,458.33 in city fees and goes to the Planning Board.

DOOR NOTICE

Outside the house: the city's transient medallion, displayed prominently, and the 24/7 contact person's name and phone, posted where the public can see it.

TAX

5% Monroe County tourist tax, filed monthly with the county Tax Collector, which says platforms "DO NOT REMIT" it, so you do. Plus 6% Florida sales tax and Monroe's 1.5% surtax.

Print the door notice

Key West asks for the 24/7 contact's name and phone on the outside of the house (City Code sec. 122-1371(d)(2)). This prints it. Put it in a weatherproof sleeve near the city's medallion.

Type what you know. Anything left empty prints as a line to write on, so it works as a blank form too. What you type stays on this phone.

CITY OF KEY WEST TRANSIENT RENTAL

24-hour contact

Posted as required by Key West City Code sec. 122-1371(d)(2).

    Key West City Code sec. 122-1371(d)(2). Sign made free at headedin.com/stay/rules/key-west/

    Prints one letter page. Post it on the outside of the house where the public can read it, in a weatherproof sleeve, near the city medallion.

    What the rules say

    Is your house allowed?
    "Except as provided in section 122-1372, all unlicensed transient rental use of residential dwellings is prohibited."City Code sec. 122-1371(b)
    • Transient means rented for 28 days or less; 29 days or more is non-transient (city FAQ). Every residential rental needs a city business tax receipt either way.
    • Zones: "Your property can be rented transiently if it is in a zoning district that allows for this use": HRCC-1, HRCC-3, HCT, HNC-1 and HNC-3. Ask Planning, 305-809-3720.
    • Cap: the city says a cap on new transient licenses "makes it very difficult" to convert a building. Licenses move between properties by transfer: city fees total $6,458.33 (from Oct 1 2026), with Development Review Committee and Planning Board review.
    • The city publishes a list of licensed transient addresses and urges guests to check it.
    What the license holder must do
    • Every year (sec. 122-1371(c)): the address and parcel number, proof of ownership, a fire marshal inspection report, square footage, rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and parking, tax ID numbers, your Florida sales tax number and DBPR license, and the 24-hour operator.
    • Occupancy follows the Florida Building Code.
    • Records: a tenant and vehicle register with each tenant's name and address and each car's make, year and tag.
    • Parking: one off-street space per unit, except in the historic district, where you steer guests to legal parking.
    • Written lease with the guest's agreement to these rules.
    • Ads: it's unlawful to advertise a house for transient rental without the permit.
    What has to be posted
    "each residential property where transient lodging use is in effect shall prominently display on the outside of the property a medallion alerting the public of the transient use."Sec. 122-1371(d)(1)
    "The name and phone number of the contact person must be posted on exterior of the dwelling in a place accessible to the public."Sec. 122-1371(d)(2)

    The contact must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond promptly to complaints. The licensing division issues the medallion and its posting instructions.

    Taxes
    "THESE ONLINE PLATFORMS DO NOT REMIT THE 5% TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX TO OUR OFFICE."Monroe County Tax Collector
    • 5% tourist development tax on stays of six months or less, monthly by the 20th, zero returns too. The county also requires its own local business tax receipt for every rental.
    • Florida sales tax 6% plus Monroe's 1.5% surtax to the Department of Revenue.

    House rules go in your listing

    For bookings made from Nov 20 2026, Airbnb wants every house rule in the listing itself; signs in the house can only repeat them. This notice only carries what Key West requires, so it adds no new rules. Put quiet hours, parking and the rest in your listing first.

    Official sources, read Nov 12 2026

    Plain-words summary, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, and the official page always wins. Checked Nov 12 2026.

    Help us get it right

    Host in Key West? If a rule, fee or form here has changed, or we missed something, tell us. We check every note against the official source before we change a page, and we put the new checked date on it.

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