Wilton Manors Vacation Rental Registration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Owners

Wilton Manors is one of the most attractive small cities in Broward for a vacation rental: waterfront homes, a walkable Wilton Drive, and Fort Lauderdale's beaches and airport minutes away. The city allows vacation rentals, but it is strict about the order of operations. It is unlawful to advertise, promote or operate a vacation rental in Wilton Manors until the property is registered with the city and has a certificate of compliance (City of Wilton Manors). That includes simply listing it on Airbnb or Vrbo.

This guide walks through the process in the order the city expects.

Step 1: Get your state and county registrations

Before the city will process an application, it asks for proof of:

1. Florida DBPR license as a transient public lodging establishment (vacation rental). DBPR vacation rental guide
2. Florida Department of Revenue registration for sales tax on short-term rental charges (Florida DOR, Sales and Use Tax).
3. Broward County Business Tax Receipt. Broward County

Broward also collects a tourist development tax on short stays, so make sure that account is set up with the Broward County Tax Collector as well.

Step 2: Prepare the city application package

Wilton Manors uses an online portal. According to the city's application (Vacation Rental Application), you upload:

• The signed, notarized application, including the Affidavit of Compliance and Acknowledgment, which states the maximum number of occupants overnight and at other times.
• Proof of DBPR registration and proof of the Broward County Business Tax Receipt.
• Proof of ownership, such as the Broward County Property Appraiser's property information sheet.
• An interior sketch by floor, drawn to scale (it can be hand-drawn), showing every bedroom, bathroom, exit, hallway and stairway, plus smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and exit lighting.
• An exterior site sketch showing structures, the pool or spa, fencing, and the number and location of on-site parking spaces.

You also apply for a City of Wilton Manors Business Tax Receipt through the same portal.

Step 3: Pay the fees

Per the city's application, as of our last review:

Item	Fee
New vacation rental registration (includes first inspections)	$375, non-refundable
Annual renewal	$350
City Business Tax Receipt	$87.50 if filed Oct 1 to Mar 31; $43.75 if filed Apr 1 to Sep 30

Fees change, so confirm them on the city's site before you file.

Step 4: Pass the inspection

The new-registration fee includes the first inspections. Your sketches are effectively the checklist: inspectors expect the detectors, extinguishers, exits and parking shown on paper to match what's in the home. The simplest way to pass first time is to walk the house with the sketch in hand before the inspector does.

Step 5: Renew every year by September 30

All Wilton Manors registrations expire on September 30 each year, regardless of when you first registered. Put the renewal on your calendar for the summer so a lapse never interrupts bookings in the busy winter season.

Common mistakes

• Listing the home before the certificate is issued. In Wilton Manors, advertising counts.
• Sketches that don't match the house. An extra bedroom on the listing that isn't on the sketch is a problem.
• Occupancy on the listing that differs from the affidavit. Keep them identical.
• Forgetting the September 30 renewal after a first registration in spring.
• Missing a tax account. State sales tax and the county tourist tax are separate.

Need help?

Registration is paperwork, but it is also the foundation of a well-run rental. Flight Mode manages pool and waterfront homes in Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale and across South Florida, and we can guide you through each step. Permit and registration consultation is offered as a separate service; see our pricing.

If your home sits near the city line, our Fort Lauderdale vacation rental management page covers local registration and day-to-day service for pool and waterfront homes there.

Thinking about renting your Wilton Manors home? Book a call with our team.

Related: Fort Lauderdale short-term rental registration: what owners need to know · Broward County vacation rental taxes

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Last reviewed October 12, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the City of Wilton Manors and a qualified professional before operating.

Sources: City of Wilton Manors, Vacation Rentals · Wilton Manors Vacation Rental Application · Ordinance No. 2019-009 · DBPR guide · Florida DOR, Sales and Use Tax