Palm Bay, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated August 23, 2023

Palm Bay 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

Short-term rentals are unregulated in Palm Bay unless you are outside the city limit. You can check out the Zoning for Palm Bay here. Zoning is subject to changes and should always be confirmed with the Palm Bay Code Compliance Department

Business License Requirements

Palm Bay doesn’t have any regulations pertaining to registering short-term rentals. If applicable, apply for all State and County licenses. 

Building and Housing Standards

Palm Bay has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Please consult the Palm Beach Code of Ordinances and contact the Building Department for more information. 

Tourist and Local Taxes

Obtain and maintain Brevard County Business Tax Receipt (if applicable), Florida Department of Revenue certificate of registration for purposes of collecting and remitting tourist development taxes, sales surtaxes, and transient rental taxes, Brevard County Tax Collector for Tourist Development Tax; and Department of Business and Professional Regulation license as a transient public lodging establishment.

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 the Palm Bay website for more information. 
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  • Short Term City Rating
    6.2
  • Competition

    5.4
  • Real Estate Cost

    6.8
  • STR Regulations

    8.0
  • Seasonality

    5.3
  • Rental Rates

    5.5

Palm Bay, 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
119,760
STR License Required
Yes
Tourist Season
February - March, July
County
Brevard
Airports
Melbourne International Airport (MLB)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Review our Palm Bay Florida short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Palm Bay?

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 Palm Bay rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Palm Bay rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Palm Bay.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Palm Bay Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Palm Bay guests.

Interested in other Florida cities?

Check out the Florida Airbnb rules directory 

What makes Palm Bay a great place to invest?

  1. Turkey Creek Sanctuary - This 130-acre nature preserve is a hidden gem in Palm Bay, offering miles of hiking trails through lush forests and wetlands. Visitors can spot a wide range of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, and a variety of bird species.
  2. Palm Bay Regional Park - This expansive park features multiple sports fields, picnic areas, and playgrounds, making it the perfect spot for families to enjoy a day in the sun. Visitors can also fish in the park's pond, or take a leisurely stroll through its walking trails.
  3. Sebastian Inlet State Park - Located just a short drive from Palm Bay, this state park is a popular destination for fishing, surfing, and beachcombing. Visitors can also hike through the park's nature trails, or take a guided kayak tour to explore the area's unique ecosystem.
  4. Brevard Zoo - This family-friendly zoo is home to over 900 animals, including giraffes, kangaroos, and lemurs. Visitors can take guided tours, participate in interactive exhibits, or even feed some of the zoo's residents.
  5. The Majors Golf Club - This scenic 18-hole golf course is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. With challenging holes and stunning views of the surrounding landscape, The Majors Golf Club is a must-play for any golf enthusiast.
  6. Turkey Creek Golf Club - This well-maintained golf course offers a challenging yet playable layout, with beautiful fairways and well-manicured greens. Visitors can enjoy a round of golf while taking in the area's natural beauty.
  7. Andretti Thrill Park - This amusement park offers a wide range of attractions, including go-kart racing, mini-golf, arcade games, and a ropes course. With something for visitors of all ages, Andretti Thrill Park is the perfect place to spend a fun-filled day in Palm Bay.

Palm Bay Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Palm Bay?

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 Palm Bay has decreased -4% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $245, which is lower than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$423,496

-4% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$245

-4% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$2,166

3% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Palm Bay, Florida

Word Cloud for Palm Bay, Florida Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay has a description approximately 1,671 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 1,834 listings in Palm Bay, 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 Beach, Pool, Patio, Beautiful, Downtown Melbourne, Outdoor, Walking, Family, Perfect, and Melbourne Beach.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Palm Bay?

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 Palm Bay involve Swimming, the Beach, Boating, Surfing, and the Zoo. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Swimming

Beach

Boating

Surfing

Zoo

Museums

Adventure Activities

Kayaking

Wildlife Viewing

Marina

Outlet Shopping

Water Sports

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Palm Bay, including The Avenue Viera, Indialantic Beach, Cocoa Beach, Brevard Zoo, and Florida Institute of Technology. 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.

Regional Landmark

Florida Institute of Technology

Included on 76% of listings

Local Landmark

Indialantic Beach

Included on 76% of listings

Local Landmark

Wickham Park

Included on 61% of listings

Regional Landmark

The Maxwell C. King Center

Included on 60% of listings

Regional Landmark

Brevard Zoo

Included on 44% of listings

Regional Landmark

The Avenue Viera

Included on 35% of listings

Regional Landmark

Cocoa Beach

Included on 23% of listings

Local Landmark

Sea Turtle Preservation Society Melbourne Beach

Included on 23% of listings

Regional Landmark

Indialantic Beach

Included on 23% of listings

Regional Landmark

Holmes Regional Medical Center

Included on 23% of listings

Regional Landmark

Melbourne Harbor Marina

Included on 23% of listings

Regional Landmark

Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden

Included on 23% of listings

What’s the weather like in Palm Bay, Florida?

The weather is generally warmer than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 81°, while the average low is about 66°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 44 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 Palm Bay are generally muggier than the national average, and the city tends to be a bit cloudy for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

56° Low 72° High

Precipitation
6.5"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
18.6 days
Cloudiness
40%

Spring

March through May

65° Low 80° High

Precipitation
8.4"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
39.9 days
Cloudiness
39%

Summer

June through August

75° Low 89° High

Precipitation
16.9"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
90.8 days
Cloudiness
64%

Fall

September through November

69° Low 83° High

Precipitation
11.9"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
62.2 days
Cloudiness
48%