Can you run an Airbnb in Melbourne Beach, Florida?

It depends on which Melbourne Beach the property is in. Inside the incorporated Town of Melbourne Beach, nightly rentals are allowed with registration. Just outside it, in unincorporated Brevard County, most homes face a 90-day minimum stay.

This is the single most important thing to get right before you buy on this stretch of the barrier island. Two homes a few blocks apart can follow completely different rules, and the address alone will not tell you which. The line between town limits and the county is what decides whether you can rent by the night.

Incorporated Town of Melbourne Beach

Inside the town limits, nightly short-term rentals are allowed, and the town requires registration with published fees. You confirm the parcel is actually in the incorporated town, register, get your licenses, and collect the taxes.

Unincorporated Brevard County has a 90-day trap

Just outside the town, most residential zoning in unincorporated Brevard County requires a minimum stay of 90 days, which rules out true nightly Airbnb use. True nightly rental in the county is generally limited to special Resort Dwelling parcels near the coast, approved case by case. Verify the exact parcel before you write an offer, because this is where buyers get burned.

Licenses and taxes

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 Melbourne Beach rentals tend to earn

Melbourne Beach is one of the stronger nightly markets in the county when the property qualifies, with a pronounced winter and spring peak. Because eligibility is parcel-specific, the first step is always confirming the property can be rented the way you plan. We check the town-versus-county line and pull comparable rentals before you make an offer.

If the parcel turns out to be in the county, a nearby nightly-friendly option like Indian Harbour Beach may be a better fit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Melbourne Beach incorporated or unincorporated?

Both exist. There is an incorporated Town of Melbourne Beach with its own rules, and surrounding unincorporated Brevard County areas that use the county rules. The parcel decides which applies.

What is the 90-day rule?

Most residential zoning in unincorporated Brevard County requires a minimum rental of 90 days, which prevents nightly Airbnb use unless the parcel has a special Resort Dwelling designation.

How much tax do I collect?

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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne Beach rentals tend to earn, read our Melbourne 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.