Cape Coral, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Cape Coral Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
All residential structures with four units or fewer that are leased or rented must be registered. “Dwellings” are single-family homes, and each unit of a multiple dwelling structure. Properties exempt from registration:- Rental properties owned by federal, state local housing programs
- HUD
- Hotels & motels
- Any community residential facility licensed and inspected by the state of Florida that does not include owner-occupied units
Business License Requirements
The owner of any residential rental property located in the City of Cape Coral shall be required to register each said property with the Department of Community Development. Rental Registration Application and see the Rental Registration Brochure for more information.Building and Housing Standards
In addition to the City of Cape Coral Code of Ordinances, the City of Cape Coral has adopted the International Property Maintenance Code, 2012 Edition, and based on the standards within, landlords are required to provide adequate heating facilities, safe electrical systems, and sound structural elements of the building and functional sanitation facilities. See Rental Property Maintenance Guidelines for details.Tourist and Local Taxes
Short-term rentals might also be subjected to the state and county sales tax and are liable for payment as established by state and county law.Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit Cape Coral for more information.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating4.9
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Competition
3.5 -
Real Estate Cost
6.3 -
STR Regulations
4.0 -
Seasonality
4.4 -
Rental Rates
6.3
Cape Coral, Florida Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 194,016
- STR License Required
- Yes
- Tourist Season
- October to early May
- County
- Lee
- Airports
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
- Charlotte County Airport (PGD)
Want to learn more about Cape Coral?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Cape Coral rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Cape Coral rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Cape Coral.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Cape Coral guests.
Interested in other Florida cities?
Check out the Florida Airbnb rules directory
What makes Cape Coral a great place to invest?
- Cape Coral, Florida is located in the Gulf of Mexico, and is known for its beautiful beaches, such as the popular and family-friendly Cape Coral Beach, and the quieter and more secluded beaches at the nearby Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
- Cape Coral is a boater's paradise, with over 400 miles of navigable waterways, and numerous marinas, boat ramps, and boat rental options, allowing visitors to explore the city's canals and waterways by boat.
- The city has a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, such as fishing, golfing, hiking, and biking, and is home to many parks and nature preserves, such as the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium.
- Cape Coral Yacht Club - This historic waterfront park offers a variety of amenities, including a beach, fishing pier, and picnic areas. Visitors can also rent a boat or kayak, or take a walk along the boardwalk to enjoy stunning views of the Caloosahatchee River.
- Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve - This 365-acre nature preserve is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including wading birds, eagles, and alligators. Visitors can explore the preserve's hiking trails, boardwalks, and observation decks to get an up-close look at Florida's unique ecosystem.
- Cape Coral is located near other popular destinations in Florida, such as Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, and Naples, which offer additional options for shopping, dining, and entertainment, and also easy to access from major airports such as Southwest Florida International Airport.
Cape Coral Nearby Cities
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7 miles away
- Rating: 5.0
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22 miles away
- Rating: 5.7
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Cape Coral?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Cape Coral has decreased -5% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $296, which is higher than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$460,401
-5% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$296
-5% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$2,256
8% YoY
Local Short-Term Rental News for Cape Coral
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Cape Coral, Florida
Common terms for Cape Coral short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Cape Coral has a description approximately 1,741 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 5,495 listings in Cape Coral, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Pool, Cape Coral, Fort Myer, Outdoor, Beautiful, Lanai, Beach, Villa, Canal, and Boat.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Cape Coral?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Cape Coral involve Boating, Swimming, the Marina, Outlet Shopping, and Kayaking. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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Boating
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Swimming
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Marina
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Outlet Shopping
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Kayaking
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Water Sports
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Adventure Activities
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Wildlife Viewing
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Water Parks
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Jet Skiing
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Paddle Boating
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Cycling
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Cape Coral, including Fishing Pier Fort Myers Beach, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Bell Tower Shops, Florida Southwestern State College, and Sanibel Island Southern Beach. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Local Landmark
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Sanibel Harbour
Included on 63% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Port Sanibel Marina
Included on 62% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Fishing Pier Fort Myers Beach
Included on 58% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach
Included on 58% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Fort Myers Country Club
Included on 55% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Bunche Beach
Included on 55% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Included on 55% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Sanibel Island Lighthouse
Included on 54% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Sanibel Island Southern Beach
Included on 49% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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CenturyLink Sports Complex
Included on 34% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Bell Tower Shops
Included on 32% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Florida Southwestern State College
Included on 29% of listings
What’s the weather like in Cape Coral, Florida?
The weather is generally warmer than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 83°, while the average low is about 67°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 38 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Cape Coral are generally muggier than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
58° Low 75° High
Spring
March through May
65° Low 83° High
Summer
June through August
75° Low 90° High
Fall
September through November
70° Low 85° High
Cities Near Cape Coral
Cape Coral, Florida, is located in Lee County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
