Orlando allows home sharing in residential zoning if the owner or tenant lives on site and rents up to half the bedrooms, with registration. Renting the whole property is a commercial dwelling unit, which is not allowed in residential districts and needs a business tax receipt.
The City of Orlando defines a short term rental as under 30 days and requires all of them to be registered. Home sharing is a partial rental: it must be hosted by an owner or tenant who lives on site, and only up to half the bedrooms may be rented. It is allowed in all residential zoning districts.
Renting the entire property is a different use called a commercial dwelling unit. The city says it is not allowed in residential (R) districts and that the property must be in O-3, any MU district or any AC district, with Municipal Planning Board approval needed in some districts. It also requires a business tax receipt.
Make sure the address is in the City of Orlando and not unincorporated Orange County, because the rules differ.
Orlando short term rental types
| Type | Key rules |
|---|---|
| Home share | Owner or tenant lives on site. Up to half the bedrooms. Registration required |
| Commercial dwelling unit | Entire home. Not allowed in residential districts. Needs qualifying zoning and a business tax receipt |
| Hotel, motel, timeshare, bed and breakfast | Separate categories with their own rules |
From City of Orlando pages. Confirm your property's zoning.
What to do
- Confirm the address is inside the City of Orlando.
- Look up the zoning on the city's zoning map.
- Decide whether your plan is home sharing or a commercial dwelling unit.
- Register, and add state license and tax registration where required.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with your title company or attorney.
Sources
- City of Orlando, Home Sharing Registration. Home sharing rules and commercial dwelling unit classification. Source type: Official. Checked October 17, 2026.
- City of Orlando, Apply for Home Sharing Registration. Zoning districts for commercial dwelling units. Source type: Official. Checked October 17, 2026.
- City of Orlando, Short-Term Rentals fact sheet. Types of short term rentals and requirements. Source type: Official. Checked October 17, 2026.