The City of Boynton Beach Development Department has created Short Term Rental Regulations for rental housing in the City. To operate a short term rental in Boynton Beach, property owners must acquire a Rental Property Certificate of Use coupled with a Business Tax Certificate.
The following is a complete guideline for Boynton Beach’s short term rental regulations so that anyone can be a responsible host when using platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and other similar services. This rundown should give you a good start in understanding your local laws.
Rental Property Certificate of Use
Residential property owners wishing to rent their property must complete and submit a Rental Property Application for Certificate of Use and Occupancy. The City particularly requires only one application per property. If owners rent out a property at any point throughout the tax year, which compromises of September 30 to October 1 of the following year, they must obtain a Rental Property Certificate of Use and Occupancy.
The Rental Property Certificate of Use is valid from the date of issuance until the end of the company tax year. It is, however, issued after approved inspections by Community Standards and/or Fire Department.
Fees
The annual minimum fee for rental units is $62.04. The fees are calculated by multiplying the number of rooms by $4.05 per room, and then an additional $25.00 for the Certificate of Use and Occupancy.
Inspection Overview
The community standards will explicitly review:
- Parking
- Landscape Maintenance
- Windows and Screens
- Unpermitted Work
- Circuits Labeled in Panel Box
- Wall Plate Covers
- Fire Extinguishers
- Appliance Fixtures
- Plumbing Fixtures
- Paving
- Irrigation
- Structural Damage
- Non-Structural Damage
- Proper Ventilation
- Weather Stripping of Doors & Windows
- Mechanical Units
Fire & Prevention Code Requirements
Property owners must provide the following requirements by the City of Boynton Beach Fire Codes and the Florida Fire Prevention Code:
- Every sleeping room and the living room must have two escape routes. (one door and one window, for example)
- If burglar bars on bedrooms or living room windows are used as a secondary means of escape, they must be easily unlocked from the inside.
- If the unit is more than one story, a smoke detector must be installed in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on each level of the unit.
- Owners must place address numbers on all buildings. Moreover, they must also place house identification numbers visible from the street or road in front of their home. Numbers should be no smaller than 4” in height, legible, and contrasting in color.
- Owners should install a five-pound ABC fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Other Regulations
As a responsible host, you must comprehend and abide by other contracts or regulations that bind you. These include leases, community rules, HOA rules, or other guidelines. Feel free to reach out to your landlord, housing authority, or community council to find out more. To get more information about other regulations, you can also visit Boynton Beach’s official website, or contact us.