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Cape Canaveral, FL

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STR Regulations for Cape Canaveral, Florida

Overview: Are STRs allowed in Cape Canaveral?

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Cape Canaveral

  1. Confirm zoning eligibility and property compliance
  • Confirm the subject property is located within Cape Canaveral city limits and is zoned for residential vacation rentals. If you are unsure, contact Planning + Zoning.
  • Plan the build-out to meet the Florida Building Code, Florida Fire and Life Safety Codes, and International Property Maintenance Code, as inspections will reference these standards.
  1. Obtain required licenses and registrations
  • City Business Tax Receipt (BTR): Required before County BTR and registration. Issued annually (City fiscal year October 1–September 30). Base fee $25 plus $2.50 per unit; one-time application fee $30. Contact the BTR office for application specifics. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ] [Link: www.capecanaveral.gov/commerce/vacation_rental_faq.php]
  • County Business Tax Receipt (BTR): Required after you receive your City BTR. Apply through the Brevard County Tax Collector; bring your City BTR with you. Online applications available; phone support provided. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ; County links in FAQ] [Links: www.capecanaveral.gov/commerce/vacation_rental_faq.php, www.brevardtc.com/, county-taxes.net/brevard/btexpress]
  • State lodging license: If you are required to have a license as a transient public lodging establishment (e.g., for certain configurations or unit counts), obtain and maintain an active Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) license. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Vacation Rental Registration: Register online via the City’s Deckard Vacation Rental Permit Registration portal. This is separate from the BTRs and is the City’s annual registration program. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ; Deckard portal link in FAQ]
  1. Prepare submissions and supporting materials
  • Exterior site sketch of the property showing the dwelling, structures, pools/spas/hot tubs, fencing, and off-street parking. Off-street parking spaces must be delineated for a fixed count. Hand-drawn sketches are acceptable. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Interior building sketch by floor showing bedrooms, other rooms, exits, hallways, and stairways. Hand-drawn acceptable. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Legal address as indicated by the Brevard County Property Appraiser. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ; Property Appraiser link in FAQ] [Link: www.bcpao.us/]
  • Evidence of an active account with the Brevard County Tax Collector to collect/remit tourist development taxes and any other applicable taxes. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Copy of your active City BTR. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Copy of your current and active DBPR license, if required. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  1. Post the Vacation Rental Safety and Information Notice
  • The City requires a unique, property-specific notice to be posted in a prominent, conspicuous location. After completing your Deckard registration, you will have access to download this notice, which includes:
    • Owner or agent contact details.
    • Maximum overnight occupancy for your unit.
    • Cape Canaveral address and phone for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Canaveral Fire Rescue.
    • Relevant City Code excerpts (e.g., sea turtle lighting, noise, dog/beach/park/nuisance rules).
    • Maximum number of vehicles allowed and a sketch of off-street parking spaces.
    • Trash and recycling pickup days/times.
    • Nearest hospital location and phone. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ] [Link: example notice: Training/ced_STRInUnitNotice20211229.pdf?t=202406181148280]
  1. Prepare for inspections and ongoing compliance
  • Inspections may occur annually or as needed to address compliance issues. Properties must be available within 20 days of City notification. Non-compliance must be corrected within 10 business days. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Maintain a three-year log of all bookings with booking date and number of occupants; this log must be available for City inspection. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  1. Set up taxes and accounting

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • City BTR (Cape Canaveral) — annual, City fiscal year October 1–September 30; fees include $25 base + $2.50/unit + $30 application. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • County BTR (Brevard County) — annual; requires City BTR first. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • DBPR transient public lodging license (if required) — maintain active status; provide copy in registration. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Vacation Rental Registration via Deckard — annual; required in addition to BTRs. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ; Deckard link in FAQ]
  • Exterior site sketch and interior floor-by-floor building sketch — hand-drawn acceptable; must show exits, parking count, structures, pools, etc. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Evidence of County Tax Collector account for tourist development tax and other applicable taxes. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Legal address from Brevard County Property Appraiser. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ; Property Appraiser link in FAQ]
  • Posted Vacation Rental Safety and Information Notice — property-specific; download available post-registration. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]

Key City Code, County, and State Regulations Specific to Cape Canaveral

  • Zoning and definitional framework: Vacation rentals are governed by City Code Sec. 110‑486 (Ordinance No. 10‑2021). [Source: City Code; Vacation Rentals page] [Links: library.municode.com/fl/cape_canaveral/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH110ZO_ARTIXSUDIRE_DIV1GE_S110-486VARE, www.capecanaveral.gov/commerce/vacation_rentals.php]
  • Occupancy limits (maximum overnight occupancy; ages 5+; plus two additional occupants per unit):
    • Up to 2,000 sq ft under enclosed roof/air: 8 occupants.
    • 2,001–3,000 sq ft: 10 occupants.
    • 3,001–4,500 sq ft: 12 occupants.
    • Over 4,500 sq ft: 14 occupants.
    • Note: The Florida Building Code and Fire Prevention Code may require stricter occupancy as determined by the Fire Inspector or Building Official. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ; City Code link in FAQ]
  • Safety, information, and posting requirements: City-issued Safety and Information Notice must be posted in a conspicuous location. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Inspections and compliance: Annual or as-needed inspections; properties must be available within 20 days; non-compliance corrected within 10 business days. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Booking logs: Three-year retention required for all bookings; log must include booking date and number of occupants; must be available for inspection. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Prohibitions:
    • No renting individual rooms or groups of rooms apart from the entire dwelling unit or house.
    • No use as a commercial or nonresidential venue (e.g., party, event, or entertainment venue; social hall). [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Fees and penalties:
    • Current schedule: Safety Inspection $75/unit; Safety Re-inspection $50/unit; Annual Registration $300/unit (non-homesteaded) or $200/unit (homesteaded); Late Registration $50/unit; Ownership/Agent Transfer $50/unit. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
    • Effective October 1, 2025: Safety Inspection $100/unit; Safety Re-inspection $75/unit; Annual Registration $450/unit (non-homesteaded) or $300/unit (homesteaded); Late Registration $150/unit; Ownership/Agent Transfer $100/unit. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
    • Operating without registration: $100 first offense; $250 second; $500 each subsequent. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • Reporting violations: 24/7 Hotline and online portal. Anonymous complaints are prohibited per Florida law. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]
  • County-level requirements: Obtain and maintain County BTR; set up and remit tourist development taxes and any other required taxes via the County Tax Collector. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ; County Tax Collector links]
  • State-level considerations (Florida): If your lodging operation meets the definition of a transient public lodging establishment, you may be required to obtain and maintain a state license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Hosts should verify licensing applicability for their specific property/unit configuration. [Source: Vacation Rental FAQ]

Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website)

Links to Source Pages (Important)

Market Context Note Third‑party sources report strong STR performance in Cape Canaveral (e.g., occupancy ~61%, ADR ~$209, monthly revenue ~$19,930). Treat third‑party marketing or community forum claims as non‑authoritative; the City FAQ, ordinances, and official portals above are the controlling sources. [Source: RedAwning market overview page] [Link: www.redawning.com/pm/market-overview/cape-canaveral-florida]

Compliance Checklist for New Operators

  • Secure City BTR and County BTR.
  • Confirm whether a DBPR license is required; obtain if applicable.
  • Register via Deckard; prepare and submit sketches and supporting documents.
  • Post the Safety and Information Notice in the unit.
  • Establish tax remittance with County Tax Collector.
  • Set up booking log retention (3 years).
  • Prepare for inspections (annual/as needed); designate a local owner

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Cape Canaveral?

Cape Canaveral hosts earn a median $29,592/year with $177 ADR and 70% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $44,295+ per year.

See the full Cape Canaveral market breakdown

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Cape Canaveral

Market Saturation Score

036912
Oversaturated
12/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
11–12 declining months: sustained YoY revenue decline - market is oversaturated.
View Full Cape Canaveral Market Analysis

Photos of Cape Canaveral

Overview of Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral is a small barrier-island city on Florida's Atlantic coast, situated in Brevard County and home to roughly 10,000 residents. The community has a laid-back, beach-town character but carries an outsized identity thanks to its role as the gateway to America's space program and one of the world's busiest cruise ports. It sits about 50 miles east of Orlando, a roughly 45- to 60-minute drive across the Banana River and through Merritt Island, and it anchors the southern end of Florida's Space Coast. Visitors tend to arrive for launches, cruises, and beach time, and the city draws a steady mix of space enthusiasts, cruise passengers, and sun seekers throughout the year.

Just north and west of the city lies the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, NASA's primary launch facility and one of the most visited attractions in the Southeast. Located on Merritt Island, the complex offers bus tours of historic launch sites, the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, IMAX films, and astronaut encounters, and it hosts viewing areas for rocket launches. The visitor complex is essentially adjacent to Cape Canaveral, typically a 10- to 15-minute drive from most points in the city.

To the north of Cape Canaveral, the Canaveral National Seashore stretches for more than two dozen miles along a largely undeveloped barrier island, protecting one of the longest stretches of pristine beach on Florida's east coast. Visitors come for swimming, surfing, fishing, and wildlife watching, including nesting sea turtles and winter manatee sightings in the lagoon. The seashore's southern access point is roughly 15 to 20 minutes from central Cape Canaveral.

Just south of the city, Cocoa Beach offers the classic Florida beach-town experience, with a long pier, surf-friendly waves, and a walkable downtown of restaurants, surf shops, and oceanfront parks. The Cocoa Beach Pier, which dates to the early 1960s, remains a focal point for both visitors and locals. The drive from Cape Canaveral to the heart of Cocoa Beach typically takes about 10 minutes.

Within the city itself, Port Canaveral functions as one of the largest cruise ports in the United States, and the adjacent Jetty Park provides a popular stretch of beach, a campground, a fishing pier, and clear views of cruise ships and departing vessels. Orlando's theme parks and the Orlando International Airport are both within roughly an hour's drive, giving Cape Canaveral unusual reach for a city of its size.

For short-term rental owners, Cape Canaveral's appeal rests on a rare combination of year-round demand drivers: scheduled rocket launches, a steady flow of cruise passengers, a genuine uncrowded beach, and easy access to both the Space Coast's outdoor offerings and Orlando's major attractions. The result is a compact market where beach access, space tourism, and cruise logistics converge in a single address.

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