Vacation rentals in Central Florida's lake and springs towns

Our Florida Central Area page covers the inland heart of the state outside the named metro markets: lake towns, springs country and retirement communities north and west of Orlando. Think of Mount Dora, Eustis and Leesburg on the Harris chain of lakes, Inverness and the Withlacoochee State Trail, Crystal River and Homosassa, where visitors swim near manatees in winter, and the rolling hills around Brooksville. Guests are families visiting relatives, paddlers, cyclists, anglers, snowbirds testing a town before buying, and theme-park visitors willing to drive for more space.

An open regime, county by county

Florida's s. 509.032(7) makes this an open market in principle: counties and cities cannot ban vacation rentals or cap stays unless the rule predates June 1, 2011. Rural counties rarely operate registration programs, so the state framework does most of the work:

• a vacation rental license from the DBPR for homes and condos rented more than three times a year for stays under 30 days;
• state sales tax and the county surtax, filed with the Department of Revenue;
• the county tourist development tax, which some counties here collect themselves, Lake and Hernando for example, while others such as Citrus leave collection to the state, according to the Department of Revenue's rate table.

What to check locally

Zoning still applies. As neighboring Polk County shows, some counties restrict transient use in agricultural or rural districts, and many deed-restricted communities, including the region's large age-restricted developments, rule out short rentals in their covenants. Since 2021, Florida lets homeowners' associations amend their documents to restrict rentals under six months, and those amendments bind existing owners. Waterfront homes add septic, dock and flood-zone questions.

Recent legislation

The framework has held through several attempts at change: a 2024 bill on statewide registration was vetoed, and a 2026 bill requiring water-safety features in vacation rentals with pools died in the House in March 2026.

Is it worth it?

Demand here is thinner and more seasonal than on the coast, so results depend heavily on the property: a lakefront or spring-side home with a dock or a pool, or a house close to a trail, usually carries a listing better than a standard subdivision home. Furnished winter stays of one to three months can round out the year. The exact perimeter of this area follows our data provider's market definition. We study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

Springs, scallops and antique fairs

Beyond the lakes, this part of Florida is shaped by its springs. Rainbow Springs at Dunnellon is a favourite for tubing and kayaking, Weeki Wachee still stages its famous mermaid shows, and the Homosassa Springs wildlife park shows manatees up close. In summer, the bay scallop season in Citrus and Hernando waters brings families who snorkel from boats, while Mount Dora hosts an arts festival in winter and antique fairs that attract collectors.

The Withlacoochee State Forest offers camping, horse riding and trails, and the Suncoast Parkway gives Tampa residents a direct route north. Florida's Turnpike and I-75 link the area to Orlando and the Gulf.

What this means for owners

• Scallop season guests need parking for a boat trailer, a freezer and an outdoor rinse area.
• Parts of this region are prone to sinkholes; check whether your insurance includes that cover and whether any claims history exists.
• Low-lying homes on the Citrus coast have been hit by storm surge during hurricanes; flood insurance and a storm plan are essential.
• Antique and arts festival weekends in Mount Dora justify higher minimum stays.