Bradenton Vacation Rental Rules 2026

Last Updated: September 24, 2026

Fast answer: Inside Bradenton city limits, every vacation rental needs a city Certificate of Registration under Ordinance 3093. You apply with your state license and tax accounts, pass a city inspection, and name a responsible party who can respond within one hour. The certificate does not transfer on a sale. A new owner has 15 days after closing to get a new one. Manatee County's tourist tax is also on you: the county says it isn't contracted with Airbnb or Vrbo to collect it.

I'm Troy Nowak, a licensed Florida real estate broker with Mangrove Bay Realty. I help people buy and sell short-term rentals in Bradenton and Manatee County as well as Pinellas. If you're comparing a Bradenton rental against St. Pete or the Pinellas beaches, I can run both sides of the Skyway.

Review STR Deal: Send me the Bradenton address and asking price. I'll check which city's rules apply, registration status, flood, and whether the numbers work.

City of Bradenton vacation rental rules

These points come from the city's Vacation Rentals page and its Vacation Rental Registration Guidance brochure (PDF). Confirm current requirements with the city before you write an offer.

Rule	What the city says
The ordinance	Ordinance 3093 (adopted February 9, 2022), amended by Ordinance 4001 (2022) and Ordinance 4011 (2023). Ordinance 4011 removed the exclusion for condominiums with three or more units
What counts	A property rented to guests more than 3 times a year for periods of less than 30 days
Registration	Each vacation rental needs its own Certificate of Registration. The city won't issue one while open code violations, unpaid penalties, or liens remain
Documents	DBPR transient public lodging license, Florida Department of Revenue certificate, Manatee County Tax Collector account, City of Bradenton Local Business Tax Receipt, proof of ownership, sample rental agreement, bedroom and bath count, max overnight occupancy, square footage, and exterior and interior sketches
Inspection	Scheduled after the application is complete, to check safety and posting requirements
Fees	$250 initial application, $150 renewal. Renewal is annual
Responsible party	One designated person, reachable 24/7, who takes action within one hour of notice from the city and comes to the rental within one hour when needed
Changes	An amendment is required if bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, max occupancy, or parking increase
Sale	The certificate is non-transferable. A new owner needs a new Certificate of Registration within 15 days of transfer

Manatee County tax and state license

Tourist tax. The Manatee County Tax Collector lists a 13% total on short-term rentals: 6% tourist development tax (paid to the Tax Collector) and 7% Florida sales and use tax (paid to the Department of Revenue). The county says it is not contracted with Airbnb, Vrbo, or other platforms to collect the 6% tourist tax. Owners or their representatives collect and remit it directly.
DBPR license. Required when you rent the entire unit more than three times a year for less than 30 days, or advertise it as a regular guest rental (DBPR guide).
Department of Revenue registration for sales tax (Florida DOR).

Bradenton isn't one rulebook

"Bradenton" on a listing can mean the City of Bradenton, the City of Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Palmetto, Longboat Key, or unincorporated Manatee County. The Manatee County Tax Collector's tourist tax page lists separate city contacts for each of those cities. Pull the parcel on the Manatee County Property Appraiser site before you trust any rental projection.

Anna Maria Island (Anna Maria, Holmes Beach): read my Anna Maria Island STR guide.
Bradenton Beach, Palmetto, Longboat Key, or unincorporated Manatee: verify with that city or the county directly. I haven't summarized those rules here.

What to check before you buy a Bradenton STR

Jurisdiction, confirmed on the parcel.
Registration status. Does the seller hold a current Certificate of Registration? Any open code cases or liens? Plan to file your own within 15 days of closing.
Occupancy and parking as registered with the city. Price the guest count the certificate supports.
Tax accounts. Budget for collecting and remitting Manatee tourist tax yourself, since the platforms don't.
HOA and condo documents. Condos with three or more units are now covered by the city ordinance, and many associations restrict short stays on their own.
Flood and insurance. Check the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get rental-use quotes.
Fallback. Model furnished 30+ day and long-term rents.

Selling an operating Bradenton STR

Because the certificate doesn't transfer, your buyer is really buying your track record plus a clean path to their own registration. Put this together before you list:

Your Certificate of Registration, inspection results, and renewal date
DBPR license, Department of Revenue certificate, Manatee tourist tax account, and Local Business Tax Receipt
Proof you've filed and paid tourist tax
12 to 24 months of booking records and reviews
A note on future bookings and what conveys with the furniture

Review STR Deal: Selling a Bradenton rental? Send me the address.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for an Airbnb in Bradenton, Florida?

Inside City of Bradenton limits, yes. The city requires a Certificate of Registration for each vacation rental under Ordinance 3093, with a $250 initial application fee and a $150 annual renewal, plus an inspection. Other Manatee cities and unincorporated Manatee County have their own rules.

Does a Bradenton vacation rental registration transfer to the buyer?

No. The city says a Certificate of Registration is non-transferable. After a sale, the new owner needs a new certificate within 15 days of the transfer.

Does Airbnb collect Manatee County tourist tax?

According to the Manatee County Tax Collector, the county is not contracted with Airbnb, Vrbo, or other platforms to collect the 6% tourist development tax. Owners or their authorized representatives must collect and remit it directly.

What is the total tax on a Manatee County short-term rental?

The Manatee County Tax Collector lists 13%: 6% tourist development tax and 7% Florida sales and use tax.

Official sources

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Buying or selling a short-term rental in Bradenton? Send the address and your plan. I'll tell you which rules apply and whether the numbers hold up.

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Educational real estate information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. City and county rules, fees, tax rates, and FEMA maps change. Verify the exact parcel with the city, county, state, your insurer, and your association before you buy.

Bradenton Vacation Rental Rules 2026: Buy or Sell a Short-Term Rental in Bradenton