Please review the information provided below before proceeding with the application. 

Qualifying vacation rental units in single, two, three, and four-family dwellings within Residential Single and Multi-Family zone districts citywide require a certificate of registration to advertise or operate as a vacation rental. These requirements DO NOT apply to owner occupied vacation rentals, condominiums, cooperatives, or properties rented for 30 consecutive days or more.If you are unsure whether your property requires a certificate of registration, email vacationrentals@sarasotafl.gov and provide the address, or call 941-263-6623. All certificate of registrations must be renewed by no later than December 31 of the calendar year in which they were issued, even if this means the certificate is valid for less than one (1) year.

Download the full application packet containing all required forms and instructions in one convenient file: 

Initial Application Packet - includes application instructions and all required documents(PDF, 2MB)

OR                                                                             

 If you prefer to download forms separately, each form is available below:

Initial Application Form(PDF, 702KB)  
Declaration of Owner Form(PDF, 146KB)  
Designation of Responsible Party Form(PDF, 100KB)  
Inspection Checklist(PDF, 332KB)
Authorized Representative Form(PDF, 107KB)  (only required if applying on behalf of the owner) 
Tax Remission Notary Template(PDF, 731KB)
Sample Interior Sketch(PDF, 68KB)
Sample Exterior Sketch(PDF, 76KB)
Fee Schedule(PDF, 128KB)
City of Sarasota Local Business Tax Receipt (LBTR) application(PDF, 252KB)  
(if the vacation rental has a current LBTR, provide a copy of the active certificate)

Once you have gathered the necessary documents, please click HERE to apply for an initial vacation rental certificate of registration.

If you wish to file in-person or via US mail, please gather all required documents and mail or deliver the completed application packet to:

City of Sarasota Vacation Rentals
1575 2nd Street, 3rd Floor
Sarasota, FL 34236

Sec. 34.5-4. - Mandatory registration—Initial certificate of registration.

Please review the information provided below before proceeding with the application.

The annual renewal period for actively registered vacation rentals is July 1 - October 1. Applications submitted beyond the deadline will be assessed a late fee of $200.00. All certificate of registrations must be renewed by no later than December 31 of the calendar year in which they were issued, even if this means the certificate is valid for less than one (1) year. If the property has changed ownership since issuance of the initial certificate, a new initial certificate of registration application must be submitted. If you need assistance with the application, please email vacationrentals@sarasotafl.gov and provide the address, or call 941-263-6623.

Download the full renewal application packet containing all required forms and instructions in one convenient file: 

Renewal Application Packet - includes application instructions and all required documents(PDF, 291KB)

OR                                                                             

If any of the items listed in the application have changed since initial registration, you will need to provide the updated information. To download forms separately, each form is available below:

Renewal Application Form(PDF, 254KB)  
Declaration of Owner Form(PDF, 146KB)  
Designation of Responsible Party Form(PDF, 100KB)  
Inspection Checklist(PDF, 332KB)
Authorized Representative Form(PDF, 107KB)  (only required if applying on behalf of the owner) 
Tax Remission Notary Template(PDF, 731KB)
Sample Interior Sketch(PDF, 68KB)
Sample Exterior Sketch(PDF, 76KB)
Fee Schedule(PDF, 128KB)
City of Sarasota Local Business Tax Receipt (LBTR) application(PDF, 252KB) (if the vacation rental has a current LBTR, provide a copy of the active certificate)

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE FOR A RENEWED CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION

PLEASE READ: ONCE YOU HAVE LOGGED INTO THE PORTAL, CLICK THE PROPERTY ADDRESS OF THE VACATION RENTAL CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION THAT YOU ARE RENEWING, THEN CLICK THE BUTTON THAT SAYS 'RENEW' TO SUBMIT.

Alternatively:

1. Email completed Renewal Application Form and all supporting documentation to:  vacationrentals@sarasotafl.gov

2. Submit the completed renewal packet in-person or via US mail to:
City of Sarasota - Vacation Rentals, 1575 2nd Street, Third Floor, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Our office is open Monday-Friday from 8AM-5PM.

The annual renewal application period for all registered vacation rentals is July 1 - October 1. The renewal application must be submitted within this time frame to avoid a $200.00 late filing fee. A renewed certificate of registration may require some additional documentation, but many of the items submitted with the initial application do not need to be resubmitted if the information on them is unchanged. Once reviewed, applicants will have twenty (20) days to provide any missing information or pay any outstanding fees. If missing information or unpaid fees are not resolved within twenty (20) days, your application will be deemed withdrawn and you will be required to submit a new application for review. Once the application is approved, you must contact the City within 30 days to schedule an inspection of the vacation rental. The inspection is not required to be completed within those 30 days, but it must be on the calendar.

An amendment of the initial or any renewed Certificate of Registration is required if any of the following changes to the vacation rental occur:

An application for an Amendment can be submitted via our online portal. Once the application has been reviewed, City staff will reach out if further information is needed.

• A change in ownership of a registered vacation rental requires the new owner to obtain a new initial certificate of registration.
• When a vacation rental is sold or ownership is transferred, the new owner must apply for an initial certificate prior to acquiring ownership or within fifteen (15) days from the date of the sale or transfer.
• A new inspection by the city is required to verify compliance with ordinance standards. 

• Certificates of Registration are non-transferable and non-assignable. 

City Code Section 34.5-8- Certificate of registration non-transferable, non-assignable. 

• A Change of Designation of Responsible Party Form must be signed and submitted to the City if an owner wishes to update the designated responsible party or parties for a registered vacation rental.
• The vacation rental owner(s) may:
  • Appoint themselves as the sole designated responsible party, or
  • Appoint themselves and one other person (maximum of two total), or
  • Designate someone else to act as the responsible party or parties on their behalf.
• If a property management company is designated:
  • The owner must name one or two specific individuals from that company to serve as the designated responsible parties.
  • The first and last name of the individual(s) signing the Form must be provided.

 To submit a Change of Designated Responsible Party form:

Change of Designation of Responsible Party form - click to download and complete form, then follow the directions below. As of October 1, this process will change, and new instructions will be posted on the City's webpage: 

To submit a Change of Designated Responsible Party form:
Email form to vacationrentals@sarasotafl.gov

 You will be notified via email if any further information is required to process the change of DRP. If you have any further questions, please call 941-263-6623. 

Inspections

Note: The fee for your initial inspection is included in the Application Fee for an initial or renewed vacation rental certificate of registration. Once the application has been approved and application fee has been paid, you must contact City staff to schedule the inspection. A vacation rental must be inspected prior to issuance of any initial or renewed certificate of registration.