The city of Sarasota is urging short-term vacation property owners to register with the city by October 31 to avoid incurring up to $700 in fees. There is a $500 application fee for registrations submitted after October 31, in addition to a $200 late fee. The final deadline for registration is December 31. The city warned that operating a vacation rental without certification when required is a violation of city code. The registration requirement applies to single, two-, three-, and four-family dwelling units operating as vacation rentals within Residential Single and Multi-Family Zoning Districts. Owner-occupied vacation rentals, condominiums, cooperatives, or properties rented for 30 days or more are exempt from registration.

It is unlawful for owners to operate or advertise their property without a certificate of registration, rent it out to more occupants than the applicable maximum occupancy, or provide false information to renters in connection with city requirements. Each day a violation exists constitutes a separate and distinct offense. In 2021, the city mandated that rental properties in the Coastal Islands Overlay District, which includes St. Armands, Lido Key, Bird Key, and northern Siesta Key, register with the city. This district was created to protect the environmentally sensitive and fragile nature of the coastal islands and their evacuation needs. The policy was updated in February with the passage of Ordinance 24-5506, extending the registration requirement to rentals on the Sarasota mainland.

Applications can be submitted via the city’s online portal or in person at City Hall.