Vacation rentals in Daytona Beach and coastal Volusia

Daytona Beach runs on events. The Daytona 500 and Speedweeks in February, Bike Week in March, Biketoberfest in October, the late-summer race at the Speedway, spring break and college sports bring waves of guests, while the hard-packed beach, where cars may still drive on some stretches, anchors summer family trips. The market also takes in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach. Oceanfront condos and condo-hotels dominate the stock, with houses on the mainland and along the Halifax River.

Unincorporated Volusia: residential zones are closed

Volusia County is one of Florida's clearest illustrations of the 2011 exception. The county treats stays of less than a month as transient lodging, allowed like hotels and motels only in commercial and tourist districts, and a circuit judge upheld that reading in a lawsuit brought by a vacation rental owners' group. Because the rule predates June 1, 2011, Florida's s. 509.032(7) does not override it. In practice, nightly rentals in unincorporated residential areas are off the table; stays of 30 days or more are not affected.

City by city

The beach cities make their own choices. Daytona Beach Shores is generally regarded as the most accommodating, while Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach allow short stays in some districts and not in others. Ormond Beach and Port Orange have their own codes. Get the zoning district confirmed by the city planning office, in writing.

Registration and taxes

• A DBPR vacation rental license for homes and condos rented more than three times a year for less than 30 days.
• A Florida sales tax account with the Department of Revenue.
• A Volusia County tourist development tax account, which the county administers; registration is required even when platforms collect on your behalf, and direct bookings must be declared.
• A local business tax receipt, depending on the city.

Our advice

Focus on oceanfront condo buildings and districts where transient rental is clearly allowed, read the association's rules, and price event weeks one by one, since they can make a large share of the year. Be ready for crowds and noise during bike rallies; clear house rules protect both the property and your standing with the building. We study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.