Possibly, but the owner rule and state licensing come first. Florida law bars most new local bans on vacation rentals, yet Jacksonville's ADU ordinance requires the owner to live on the property, and a whole unit rented for short stays often needs a state vacation rental license. It depends on your city, your HOA and how you rent.
What does Florida law say about vacation rentals?
Section 509.032(7)(b) of the Florida Statutes bars local laws adopted after June 1, 2011 from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating how long or how often they are rented. Rules adopted on or before that date can still apply, and cities keep other tools, such as zoning for what may be built and general rules on noise, parking and safety.
Does a Jacksonville ADU need a state license for short stays?
Often. Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses vacation rentals, generally covering a unit rented to guests more than three times a year for periods of less than 30 days or one calendar month, or advertised as regularly available for such stays. Short stays also owe state sales tax and the county's tourist development tax.
How does the ADU ordinance limit short-term renting?
- Owner on site. The homeowner must live on the property, so the model is an owner renting one unit, not two.
- One ADU per lot. No stacking of multiple short-term units.
- HOA rules. Many associations restrict leasing or set minimum lease terms, separate from city law.
We have not found a City of Jacksonville short-term rental registration program as of October 2026, but rules change. We check before you list.
What about the other cities?
- St. Augustine HP-1: the code's rental language is for monthly or longer terms.
- Town of Orange Park: guest houses may not be rented at all.
- Jacksonville Beach and Fernandina Beach: their own codes and districts decide; we check each parcel.
What about stays of a month or longer?
Furnished stays of 30 days or more, for traveling nurses or relocating workers, fall outside the vacation rental definition and are a common middle path. A standard 12-month lease is the simplest option of all.
When is short-term renting a bad plan?
It depends on the covenants and the numbers. If your HOA sets a minimum lease term, the question is settled. If not, compare likely nightly income, after cleaning, licensing and taxes, with a steady long-term rent. Apartment List's November 2026 report puts Jacksonville's median one-bedroom rent at $1,108 and two-bedroom at $1,304, up 0.8% over the year.
Related
Sources, as of October 2026: Florida Statutes s. 509.032(7)(b) and s. 509.242; reporting on City of Jacksonville Ordinance 2022-0448; City of St. Augustine code Sec. 28-183; Town of Orange Park code definitions; Apartment List Jacksonville rent report (November 2026).
Updated October 2026