Vacation rentals in West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach has changed fast. A growing downtown office market, the Norton Museum of Art, the Kravis Center and waterfront events along Flagler Drive now bring business travelers and weekenders on top of the classic winter visitors. Palm Beach International Airport is minutes from downtown, the island of Palm Beach lies across the Intracoastal, and the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals share a spring training complex in the city. Rentals are mostly bungalows in historic neighborhoods such as Flamingo Park, El Cid and Northwood, townhomes and downtown condos.

City rules: every rental is inspected

In West Palm Beach every rental unit, whether let for a year or a weekend, must obtain a rental business tax account from the city and pass a code compliance inspection; buildings with three or more units also need a fire inspection. The city verifies the zoning, unit count and type, and some multifamily properties fall under geographic caps. Before applying, the property must meet interior and exterior standards, from working plumbing and appliances to paved parking and visible address numbers.

County tourist tax: the platforms do not collect it

Palm Beach County has a feature many owners miss. Its tax collector states that online platforms do not remit the tourist development tax to the county: the host collects it and files every month, including zero returns. Vacation rental operators also need a short-term rental local business tax receipt for each property, and both the tourist tax account number and that receipt number must appear in online advertising.

State framework

Florida's s. 509.032(7) keeps the city from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating the length and frequency of stays, except through rules adopted before June 1, 2011. The state requires a DBPR vacation rental license for homes and condos rented more than three times a year for under 30 days, plus sales tax registration with the Department of Revenue. Neighboring towns, the Town of Palm Beach first among them, apply their own and often stricter codes.

Where we would start

Open the county tourist tax account and set up monthly filing before the first reservation, prepare the unit for the city inspection, and check historic-district rules if exterior work is planned. Condo owners should also read the association's leasing rules, which often require approval of each tenant. We study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.