Gainesville, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations

City Code of Ordinances

The City of Gainesville adopted a new ordinance called "Residential Rental Unit Permits," which will lower permit fees, introduce new energy efficiency standards for rentals and include mandatory compliance inspections. A regulated residential unit is a room or rooms located in a condominium, co-op, timeshare, quadruplex, triplex, duplex, or single-family dwelling that is rented, advertised, or held out to be rented for periods of at least 30 consecutive days or one calendar month.Visit the City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances  - Chapter 30 for more land development code and zoning information. The changes will now allow for vacation rentals to be held in the city's Residential-Office and commercial zoning districts.  Residential zoned properties are prohibited.

Business License Requirements

The ordinance specifies that any unit rented for less than 30 consecutive days or one calendar month is not required to obtain a permit.  The permit fee for Regulated Residential Unit is $122. There will be a reassessment of the fee after the first year of the implementation of the new ordinance to see if any adjustments need to be made.  There is also a cost-of-living adjustment built-in for future years. 

Building and Housing Standards

The City will be doing mandatory compliance inspections at least once every four years for all rentals within the city limits. Some of the changes in the ordinance are new energy efficiency standards, requiring updates that also increase safety. Examples include upgraded features to attics, ducts, water heaters, chimneys, and plumbing.
You can find useful information about this new ordinance on the City's website under the Rental Housing Permits & Fees section. This section includes expected living standards and a list of a tenant's rights and responsibilities. 

Tourist and Local Taxes

The tourist development tax shall be charged by the person receiving the consideration for the lease or rental, and it shall be collected from the lessee, tenant, or customer at the time of payment. The tax rate varies per county.  In Alachua County, the tourist development tax is 5% of the net rental receipts. 

Other Rules

The laws and regulations that govern the short-term rental market are constantly changing. As demand remains high, more and more cities and vacation destinations will continue to take steps to protect residential neighborhoods and guests alike. For now, check the City's ordinances and state laws before getting started and revisit them often as regulations can change at any time.