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Miami Beach vs. Key West: short-term-rental rules

Both Miami Beach and Key West carry the same headline short-term-rental status (Restricted) — the differences are in the details below: licensing, taxes, minimum stays, and enforcement.

RuleMiami BeachKey West
STR statusRestrictedRestricted
City license / registrationMiami Beach Business Tax Receipt (BTR) for Short-Term Rental; Miami Beach Resort Tax Registration / Certificate; Miami Beach Certificate of UseCity of Key West Business Tax Receipt (BTR); City Transient Rental License / Medallion (Regulatory License supporting the BTR)
Primary residenceNot specifiedNot specified
Minimum stayNo set minimum30-night minimum
Lodging tax~11.0% total~12.5% total
EnforcementActiveActive

Neither is clearly easier at the headline level; the decision usually comes down to taxes and minimum-stay rules. Open each full record below for the cited, dated details.

Full Miami Beach rules Full Key West rules

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Frequently asked questions

Is short-term renting easier in Miami Beach or Key West?
Both share the same headline status (Restricted); compare the licensing, tax, and minimum-stay rows above.
Do both Miami Beach and Key West require a license or registration?
Miami Beach: yes — Miami Beach Business Tax Receipt (BTR) for Short-Term Rental; Miami Beach Resort Tax Registration / Certificate; Miami Beach Certificate of Use. Key West: yes — City of Key West Business Tax Receipt (BTR); City Transient Rental License / Medallion (Regulatory License supporting the BTR).
Which has lower lodging taxes, Miami Beach or Key West?
Miami Beach is lower at ~11.0% total. Estimates follow each record's applicability notes; see the full tax tables for the breakdown and who remits.

Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.