A month in Fort Lauderdale

Florida taxes rentals of six months or less, so a 30-night stay pays 13% in Broward County, the same as a weekend. The tax stops only with a written lease for longer than six months, or after six months in the same place with the tax paid.

Since 1 July 2025, occupancy in a hotel, motel or vacation rental is transient unless a written agreement says the unit is the guest's sole residence. Florida's landlord and tenant act does not apply to transient stays, and an operator can ask a guest who has not paid, or has not checked out by the time given in writing, to leave; staying on after that is a misdemeanour. Under a residential lease, the landlord returns a deposit within 15 days, or sends written notice of a claim within 30.

Fort Lauderdale's vacation rental code covers homes rented to transient guests more than three times a year for less than 30 days or one calendar month, so a stay longer than a month falls outside it, while the room taxes still apply up to six months. A home that also takes short bookings must be registered, and its listing carries the certificate of compliance number.

Hollywood licenses homes advertised for less than 30 days or one calendar month more than three times a year. The rules of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach could not be verified as of September 2026, so ask the host how the rental is registered.

Las Olas and Downtown suit a month with shops, restaurants and the Riverwalk within walking distance. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea suits a month by the reef and the pier, and Hollywood Beach a month close to the airport. Pompano Beach, about 29 km (18 miles) from the airport, is the one area here with a monthly parking pass for non-residents. These choices are editorial.

Pompano Beach sells non-residents a monthly hangtag for USD 75, first come first served, with overnight parking only in the Oceanside Lot, and garage permits at USD 100 a month on the roof and USD 150 on levels 2 to 4. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea issues parking permits to residents and town business employees. Fort Lauderdale's beach lots close at night and its garages have maximum stays, so a month there needs a place with its own space, and a registered vacation rental keeps guest cars in its driveway.

Rental companies bill tolls through their own programmes. A SunPass Portable owner can add the rental car's plate to the account for the rental dates.

Visitors from the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, among them the UK and 24 of the 27 EU countries (not Bulgaria, Cyprus or Romania), can stay up to 90 days with an ESTA, which costs USD 40.27. The stay cannot be extended, and a side trip to the Bahamas, Canada or Mexico does not restart the 90 days. CBP records each arrival electronically, with an admit-until date that can be checked on its website.

Airbnb calls 28 nights or more a monthly stay: the first month is charged up front, later months 10 days before each period, under a long-term cancellation policy that generally requires 30 days' notice of changes.

Planning to park at the beach meters for a month. The limits at the beach run from 4 to 10 hours, and several lots close at night with towing.

Expecting the room tax to stop after 30 nights. It runs for six months unless a written lease for longer is in place.

Booking more guests than beds. Registered rentals in Fort Lauderdale sleep two per bedroom overnight, not counting up to four children under 13.

Assuming utilities, cleaning or a deposit are included. No official source on local practice was found, so ask in writing.