City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Big Pine Key, FL
How Big Pine Key regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Pre-2011 grandfathered zoning exclusion: vacation rentals (<28 days) prohibited in the IS, URM and IS-M residential districts that predominate in the Keys (Monroe County LDC §134-1, scheme originating Ord. No. 004-1997)
- Special vacation-rental permit regime with annual permit, manager license, and fire/life-safety inspection required in the districts where STRs are allowed (SR, MU, UR, IS-V, OS)
- Big Pine Key / No Name Key overlaid by the Key Deer Habitat Conservation Plan + federal Incidental Take Permit and ROGO permit-allocation limits, sharply constraining new residential development (supply overlay, not STR-specific)
- Unincorporated place: Monroe County LDC + Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) govern in full
Based on: Monroe County Land Development Code §134-1 — VRs under 28 days prohibited in IS / URM / IS-M residential districts
Summary of the rule
Vacation rentals of less than 28 consecutive days are PROHIBITED in the IS, URM and IS-M land-use districts; allowed only in SR, MU, UR, IS-V and OS districts (and, within IS, only IS-V or gated communities with an HOA that expressly regulates vacation rentals). Monroe County LDC §134-1.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Big Pine Key · system last checked Nov 9, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.