Can you run an Airbnb in Cocoa Beach, Florida?

Yes. Nightly short-term rentals are allowed in Cocoa Beach, but the city runs one of the strictest vacation rental registration programs on the Space Coast, so you register, pass inspections, and collect the taxes before you host.

Cocoa Beach is one of the few barrier-island markets in Brevard County where you can legally rent a home by the night, which is exactly why it draws investors. Florida law keeps the city from banning short-term rentals or setting a minimum number of nights, so true nightly stays are on the table. What sets Cocoa Beach apart from the mainland is the local paperwork.

Short-term rentals are allowed, with a real registration program

Since 2025, Cocoa Beach requires every vacation rental to register with the city, pass fire and building safety inspections, cap occupancy, and renew annually. Registration fees are occupancy-based, so a larger home costs more to register than a small condo. This is the trade for being one of the only nightly-friendly beach towns in the county.

Compare that to a mainland market like the City of Melbourne, which has no dedicated registration program at all. Cocoa Beach asks more up front, but the beachfront demand is why the numbers can still work.

What the licenses and taxes look like

On top of that you will need a Florida DBPR vacation rental license, a city business tax receipt, and a Brevard County business tax receipt before your first guest checks in.

Every Brevard County short-term rental collects about 12 percent in lodging taxes on stays of six months or less: 6 percent state sales tax, 1 percent county surtax, and the 5 percent Tourist Development Tax filed with the Brevard Clerk of Court. Airbnb and VRBO handle some of this automatically, but you are responsible for making sure all of it is paid.

What Cocoa Beach rentals tend to earn

Cocoa Beach revenue swings hard by season. Peak months (roughly February through April) run far above the slow late-summer stretch, so you price and set minimum stays around that swing rather than an annual average. Beachfront and walk-to-beach homes command the strongest nightly rates in the market. What a specific property is likely to earn is something we sort out with real comparable rentals before you write an offer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to Airbnb in Cocoa Beach?

Yes. You need a Florida DBPR vacation rental license, city vacation rental registration with inspections, a city and county business tax receipt, and a Tourist Development Tax account with Brevard County.

Is Cocoa Beach better than the mainland for short-term rentals?

Cocoa Beach earns higher nightly rates because it is on the beach, but buy-in prices are higher and the registration program is stricter. Mainland markets like Cocoa or Rockledge cost less to enter with lighter rules and lower rates. The right call depends on your budget and how hands-on you want to be.

How much tax do I collect on a Cocoa Beach rental?

About 12 percent on stays of six months or less: 6 percent state sales tax, 1 percent county surtax, and the 5 percent Brevard Tourist Development Tax.

Thinking about a short-term rental on the Space Coast?

If you are weighing a Cocoa Beach short-term rental against the rest of Brevard County, my partner Nichole and I got your back. We help investors and relocation buyers find properties that actually work as rentals across the Space Coast every week. The fastest way to start is to schedule a call or reach out anytime at (321) 212-7676 or www.livingspacecoast.com.

For the full breakdown of licensing, zoning, taxes, and what Cocoa Beach rentals tend to earn, read our Cocoa Beach short-term rental rules guide.

Short-term rental rules change often, and this is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm the current requirements with the city, Brevard County, and the Florida DBPR before you buy or rent.