Usually not as a whole-unit vacation rental. As of October 2026, the City of Orlando allows short stays under 30 days only through home-sharing registration, and requires the resident host to live on site and be present. It depends on your zoning and setup: renting an entire unit or property is not allowed under home sharing.
What are Orlando's home-sharing rules?
From the city's home-sharing page, as of October 2026:
- The resident must apply, live on site and be present when hosting guests.
- The home must be the applicant's primary residence, with two forms of proof.
- The rented space must be 50% or less of the property.
- One booking at a time, for stays under 30 days.
- Renting out an entire unit or property is not allowed; that is a commercial dwelling unit, limited to certain zoning districts.
- Proof of registration must be linked to every online listing.
- In an HOA, you need an approval letter from the association.
Registration costs $275 the first year, then $100 a year for an owner-occupied property or $125 if not owner-occupied.
So can my ADU be a home share?
The city's page mentions garage apartments as an example of space a host can offer, but it does not say whether a particular ADU qualifies. The ADU page itself says short-term rental has special rules and is not allowed in all situations. We ask City Planning about your exact setup before you plan around guest income.
What does Florida require for short stays?
Florida law, in section 509.032(7)(b), bars local laws adopted after June 1, 2011 from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating how long or how often they are rented. Older local rules and zoning that predate that date can still apply. Separately, the state licenses vacation rentals through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and short-stay rentals also owe state and county tourist taxes.
Does the city's incentive program change this?
Yes. If you take the ADU incentive, the unit must be rented to an income-qualified tenant for 12 of its first 24 months, which leaves no room for vacation guests in that period. See the incentive guide.
What can I do instead?
- Long-term lease. Orlando allows standard residential leases of the ADU.
- Stays of 30 days or more. These fall outside the city's under-30-day home-sharing rules.
- Family use. A parent, adult child or caregiver.
For income figures, read how much rent an Orlando ADU can earn.
Sources, checked October 2026:
- City of Orlando, Home Sharing page (orlando.gov/homeshare).
- City of Orlando, ADU page (short-term rental note, long-term leases).
- Florida Statutes, section 509.032(7)(b), vacation rental preemption.