Daytona Beach, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Daytona Beach, FL?

YES — Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Daytona Beach, Florida, but they are subject to comprehensive regulations and licensing requirements. The city has established a structured framework that permits short-term rentals while maintaining community standards and ensuring proper oversight.

Daytona Beach has designated specific zoning districts for short-term rentals, primarily along major transportation corridors, within hotel/motel areas, and in specific sections of the beachfront, downtown, and Midtown areas. These permitted locations are divided into four tourist zoning districts and thirteen redevelopment zoning districts, as identified through the city's Zoning GIS Information portal.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Daytona Beach?

Daytona Beach hosts earn a median $31,105/year with $211 ADR and 59% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $47,773+ per year.

See the full Daytona Beach market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Daytona Beach

Step-by-Step Process

Verify Zoning Compliance
- Confirm your property is located within designated STR zones using the Zoning GIS Information portal
- Contact the city's Rental Property Program office to verify zoning requirements
Obtain Business Tax Receipt
- Apply for and renew annually by September 30th
- Required for all businesses operating within Daytona Beach
Secure Required Licensing
- Apply for city-issued occupational license
- Register with Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR)
- Obtain Sales Tax Number from Florida Department of Revenue
Register for Tax Accounts
- Apply for Volusia County Tourist Development Tax account
- Set up accounts for collecting both county (6%) and state (6.5%) taxes
Meet Building and Safety Standards
- Ensure compliance with building codes for "Other Accommodations"
- Install required safety equipment (smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency exits)
- Maintain property to appropriate standards

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Essential Documentation

City of Daytona Beach Requirements:

Business Tax Receipt (annual renewal by September 30th)
Certificate of Use
City-issued occupational license

State of Florida Requirements:

DBPR registration for transient rental operations
Sales Tax Number from Florida Department of Revenue
Potential licensing through Hotels and Restaurants division

County Requirements:

Volusia County Tourist Development Tax account registration
Compliance with zoning requirements (verify with local zoning office)

Federal Requirements:

Income tax reporting for rental income -可能需要雇主识别号(EIN)用于税务目的

Compliance Guidelines

Building Standards:

Properties classified as "Other Accommodations" for transient/tourist guests staying under six months
Accessory services must not exceed 20% of total gross floor area
Services must be within main accommodation structure with internal access only
No external advertisements or signage permitted
Alcohol sales must comply with Section 6.20 regulations

Record Keeping Requirements:

Maintain records for three years
Guest checks, general ledgers, tax payments, and federal income tax returns
Keep documentation available for audit at place of business

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

City of Daytona Beach Regulations

Zoning Restrictions:

STRs permitted in four tourist zoning districts
Allowed in thirteen redevelopment zoning districts
Residential neighborhoods generally restricted except in specifically designated areas
Properties must be located along major transportation corridors or within hotel/motel areas

Operational Requirements:

Must meet building and housing standards for "Other Accommodations"
Compliance with International Property Maintenance Code
Adherence to noise and conduct regulations
Compliance with minimum stay requirements during major events

Licensing and Registration:

Annual business tax receipt renewal mandatory
Certificate of use required
City-issued occupational license needed
Compliance with all state transient rental requirements

Volusia County Regulations

Tourist Development Tax (TDT):

6% tax on all rentals six months or less
Registration required before starting rental operations
Monthly filing obligations (or quarterly if annual collections under $1,000)
Due by 20th of following month
Platform-specific collection policies:
- Airbnb: Collects county tax on behalf of hosts (effective 2/1/2020)
- VRBO/HomeAway: Collects county tax on behalf of hosts (effective 1/1/2020)
- Other platforms (Booking.com, Hipcamp, etc.): Hosts must collect and remit directly

State of Florida Regulations

Sales Tax:

6.5% state sales tax on transient rentals
Remitted to Florida Department of Revenue
Mandatory for all transient rental operations

DBPR Requirements:

Registration required for all transient rental types
Hotels and Restaurants division regulates lodging licenses
Compliance with state transient rental statutes

Enforcement and Penalties

Tax Compliance Penalties:

10% penalty or $50 minimum for late/missing filings
Interest assessed at market rate adjusted semi-annually
Collection allowance: 2.5% of tax collected (maximum $30) for electronic filing

Code Enforcement:

Active enforcement by Code Compliance Division
Violations can result in fines and license suspension
Property Maintenance Code violations subject to penalties

Prohibited Activities:

Operating without proper licensing
Zoning violations
Safety code non-compliance
Failure to collect/remit required taxes

Contact Information for Local Authority

City of Daytona Beach - Primary STR Authority

Rental Property Program

Physical Address: 125 S. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: (386) 671-5298
Website: City of Daytona Beach STR Program

City Hall

Address: 301 S. Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: (386) 671-8400
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM

Permits & Licensing

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM

Code Enforcement

Online Reporting: Daytona Beach IMS System
Code Violation Search: Available through online portal

Volusia County - Tax Authority

Tourist Development Tax Division

Director: Craig Baumgardner, CEL
Address: Historic Courthouse, 125 W. New York Ave., Room 120, DeLand, FL 32720
Phone: (386) 943-7085
Email: treasury@volusia.org
Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM
Online Filing: Excise TDT Portal

General County Services

Main Number: (386) 736-2700
Address: 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, FL 32720
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM

State of Florida - Business Regulation

Florida Department of Revenue

Local Office: (386) 274-6600
Website: Florida DOR

DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation)

Website: DBPR Licensing Information

Important Links and Source Pages

Official Government Resources

Compliance and Reporting Tools

Additional Resources

Disclaimer: The regulatory landscape for short-term rentals is constantly evolving. This guide is based on information current as of 2024-2025 and should be verified with local authorities before making investment decisions. Consult with legal and tax professionals familiar with Daytona Beach regulations for personalized guidance.

Next step

Found a property in Daytona Beach?

Paste any address and get estimated revenue, cash-on-cash return, and comparable STR performance in under 5 minutes. 3 free analyses per day.

Ask the AI Advisor about Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach sits on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida in Volusia County, with a city population of roughly 75,000 residents. The city has long been associated with its wide, hard-packed sandy shoreline, famously one of the few beaches in the world where motor vehicles are still permitted on the sand in designated areas. Beyond the beach, Daytona Beach is a major motorsports destination and serves as a gateway to central Florida's Atlantic coast, sitting approximately 60 miles northeast of Orlando, or just over an hour's drive by interstate.

Just a few miles inland from the beach, Daytona International Speedway anchors the city's identity as the home of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's most iconic race, and a year-round motorsports and event venue. The 500-acre complex hosts major race weekends, motorcycle events, car shows, and behind-the-scenes tours that draw visitors well beyond race week, giving the surrounding lodging market a steady rhythm of high-demand weekends throughout the year.

About seven miles south of the city center, the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse rises as one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States, offering climbs to the top and a small museum campus. The adjoining inlet area features a working marina, charter fishing boats, and waterfront restaurants, making it a popular half-day excursion for visitors staying along the main beach strip.

A short drive west of town, Blue Spring State Park draws crowds in the cooler months as one of the largest winter gathering sites for West Indian manatees on the Florida coast, with clear spring runs for swimming and tubing in summer. The park's mix of wildlife viewing, hiking, and camping adds a nature-based counterpoint to the beach and speedway and broadens the appeal of the area for travelers who want a quieter day out.

To the north, historic St. Augustine, the nation's oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement, lies roughly an hour up the coast and is a common day trip for visitors based in Daytona Beach. To the south, the Canaveral National Seashore and the Kennedy Space Center area can be reached in about an hour, adding space-coast and natural-beach options within easy reach.

The combination of a year-round beach season, marquee motorsports events, family-oriented attractions, and proximity to both Orlando's theme parks and historic St. Augustine gives Daytona Beach a wide and varied visitor base. For short-term rental owners, that diversity translates into demand that extends well beyond a single niche, supporting stays tied to speedway weekends, beach holidays, family vacations, and off-season escapes alike.