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

Executive summary: Yes, short‑term rentals (rentals of less than 30 consecutive days or 6 months or less) are allowed in Delray Beach. However, Delray Beach does not issue a municipal vacation rental permit. Owners must comply with Florida state rules (Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, DBPR) and Palm Beach County tax and business registration requirements. City-level landlord permits were eliminated on October 1, 2023. All operators must collect and remit Florida sales tax and Palm Beach County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) directly to the county; listing platforms do not remit county TDT.

How to start a short‑term rental business in Delray Beach

Confirm zoning and use restrictions
- Call Planning & Zoning at (561) 243‑7040 to verify that STRs are permitted in your district and confirm occupancy limits.
- If the property is in a condo or HOA, obtain written approval; associations may prohibit or limit STRs and set minimum stay requirements.
Register for required state licenses
- Obtain the Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License if you rent for fewer than 30 days more than three times per year:
  - Choose “Vacation Rental – Dwelling” (single-family) or “Vacation Rental – Condominium” (condos).
  - Apply and renew online at myfloridalicense.com (Division of Hotels & Restaurants).
- Register with the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) to collect and remit Florida sales tax (6%).
Set up county and local business registration
- Create a Palm Beach County TDT account with the Tax Collector to collect/remit TDT (5% for rentals 6 months or less).
- Obtain a Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt and a City of Delray Beach Business Tax Receipt (BTR).
Prepare the property and documentation
- Install/maintain required safety equipment: working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and any pool safety measures.
- Draft house rules, rental agreements, guest registration records, and a tax‑collection workflow.
List and operate
- Display the DBPR license number on all listings and in all advertising as required by state law.
- Collect and remit county TDT monthly (due by the 1st; late after the 20th). File even if no rentals occurred that month.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Delray Beach?

Delray Beach hosts earn a median $45,379/year with $263 ADR and 72% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $69,135+ per year.

See the full Delray Beach market breakdown

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License
- Mandatory for rentals shorter than 30 days if you rent more than three times annually.
- Initial fee: ~$150–$300 depending on occupancy.
- Annual renewal required; license number must appear on all ads.
- Apply at myfloridalicense.com (Div. of Hotels & Restaurants).
Florida Department of Revenue (Sales Tax) registration
- Required to collect/remit Florida sales tax on transient rentals.
- Register at floridarevenue.com.
Palm Beach County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) registration
- 5% TDT on gross rental receipts for stays of 6 months or less.
- Register at pbctax.gov; file monthly by the 1st (late after the 20th); penalties apply for late filing.
- Important: Platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) do not collect Palm Beach County TDT; hosts must collect and remit directly.
Business Tax Receipts (BTR)
- Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt: required to operate a business in the county.
- City of Delray Beach BTR: required to operate a business in the city.
Insurance and safety compliance
- Maintain property insurance suitable for commercial STR use.
- Keep safety equipment (smoke detectors, fire extinguishers), and maintain safe electrical, structural, and sanitation standards.

Specific regulations (City, County, and State)

City of Delray Beach (561) 243‑7040

City-level landlord permits were eliminated effective October 1, 2023, due to state legislation. No city vacation rental permits are required.
A Business Tax Receipt (BTR) is still required for any business operating in the city; contact Development Services at (561) 243‑7040 for registration.
City code enforcement may conduct inspections and investigations, particularly in response to complaints, to ensure compliance with city and state standards.
Parking and occupancy limits apply; unrelated occupancy capped at three per dwelling unit in residential areas. Violations can trigger enforcement actions, fines, and added penalties.

Palm Beach County

Tourist Development Tax (TDT)
- Rate: 5% on gross rental receipts for rentals 6 months or less.
- Registration at pbctax.gov; monthly reporting is required (due by the 1st; late after the 20th).
- Collection allowance: 2.5% (max $30) for on-time filings; penalties for late filings.
- Platforms do not remit county TDT—hosts are personally responsible for collection and remittance.
Business Tax Receipt
- Required at the county level for business operations; contact the Tax Collector at (561) 355‑2264.

State of Florida

DBPR Vacation Rental License
- Required if renting fewer than 30 days more than three times per year.
- Must display the license number on all listings.
- Initial fee ~$150–$300; annual renewal required.
- Contact: DBPR Division of Hotels & Restaurants at (850) 487‑1395.
Florida Sales Tax (Transient Rental Tax)
- 6% state sales tax on gross rental receipts; register with DOR to collect and remit.
Preemption and local rules
- State law has preempted many city-level requirements (e.g., landlord permits), but older (pre‑2011) local provisions may still influence operations in certain residential areas. Always confirm with Planning & Zoning.
Taxes and reporting obligations
- Collect Florida sales tax and county TDT from guests.
- File monthly TDT returns (and DOR returns if applicable), even when no rentals occurred.

Enforcement and penalties

Non‑compliance may trigger:
- DBPR fines and potential license suspension.
- County tax penalties, interest, and collection actions.
- City code enforcement fines and civil penalties (up to $1,000 per day for some violations).
- In severe cases, criminal charges for tax evasion.
Inspections can occur without prior notice; regular maintenance and adherence to safety standards reduce enforcement risk.

Contact information (phone, email, website)

City of Delray Beach
- Development Services (BTR, zoning): (561) 243‑7040
- Building Division: (561) 243‑7200
- Neighborhood Services (compliance): (561) 243‑7203 (option 2)
- Website: delraybeachfl.gov
- Address: 100 NW 1st Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444
Palm Beach County Tax Collector
- Tourist Development Tax: (561) 355‑2264
- Website: pbctax.gov
- Delray Service Center: 501 S Congress Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33445
Florida DBPR (Division of Hotels & Restaurants)
- Phone: (850) 487‑1395
- Website: myfloridalicense.com
Florida Department of Revenue (Sales Tax)
- Phone: (800) 352‑3671
- Website: floridarevenue.com

Links to source pages

Florida DBPR: myfloridalicense.com
Florida Department of Revenue: floridarevenue.com
Palm Beach County Tax Collector (TDT): pbctax.gov
City of Delray Beach: delraybeachfl.gov

Notes and cautions

The elimination of city landlord permits simplifies compliance but does not remove state and county obligations.
County TDT must be collected and remitted directly by hosts; listing platforms will not do this for Palm Beach County.
Always verify with local authorities regarding zoning, occupancy limits, HOA/condo restrictions, and safety requirements. Regulations can change—consult local and state agencies before listing and during annual renewals.

Next step

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Ask the AI Advisor about Delray Beach

Delray Beach is a coastal city in Palm Beach County, Florida, home to roughly 68,000 residents. Set along the Atlantic between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, it has built a reputation as one of South Florida's most walkable and culturally active small cities, drawing visitors with its lively downtown, sandy shoreline, and easygoing beach-town atmosphere. Located about 50 miles north of Miami and roughly 15 miles south of West Palm Beach, it serves as a relaxed base for exploring both the broader Palm Beach coastline and the attractions of the greater South Florida region.

The heart of the city is Atlantic Avenue, a palm-lined corridor of independent boutiques, outdoor cafés, galleries, and bars that has become one of the most photographed downtowns in Florida. Stretching roughly two miles from the Intracoastal Waterway to the beach, it functions as both a daytime shopping district and an evening entertainment hub, with frequent street festivals and a long-running weekend farmers market. The walkability of the surrounding neighborhoods, including the art-focused Pineapple Grove district just north of the avenue, makes downtown a self-contained destination for short-term visitors.

A short drive west of downtown leads to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, located about ten minutes from the city center. The museum is dedicated to living Japanese culture in the United States, housing rotating exhibits, a pan-Asian tea café, and six carefully composed gardens set around a central lake. The grounds, which include a reconstructed early-twentieth-century rice field and a bamboo grove, draw both cultural travelers and casual visitors looking for a quiet afternoon.

For nature-oriented visitors, the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, a free public site maintained by Palm Beach County, sits about ten minutes west of downtown. Three miles of elevated boardwalk wind through constructed marshes where herons, alligators, wood storks, and roseate spoonbills can be observed year-round, making it a popular stop for birders and photographers. A short additional drive south brings visitors to the sister site at Green Cay Wetlands, which offers a comparable experience along a separate loop.

Downtown's other cultural anchor is Old School Square, a cluster of restored 1920s school buildings that now houses a performing-arts theater, a visual-arts museum, and an outdoor pavilion hosting concerts and community events. Together with the surrounding galleries and the nearby Cornell Art Museum, it gives the city a denser arts scene than its size would suggest, and helps sustain visitor interest beyond the beach itself.

Delray Beach combines the ingredients that make South Florida a perennial short-term-rental market: a desirable Atlantic shoreline, a walkable and entertainment-rich downtown, easy access to two international airports within roughly an hour's drive, and a steady calendar of festivals and events. The mix of beach-town leisure, cultural attractions, and proximity to both West Palm Beach and Miami gives the city broad appeal to couples, families, and seasonal travelers alike, supporting demand for rentals across a wide range of price points and stay lengths.