City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Key West, FL
How Key West 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.
- ROGO BPAS capped transient allocation
- Very difficult to convert residential to transient use
- License medallion
- Active enforcement
Based on: Key West City Code Ch.122 Art.V (Div.6 transient units, Div.7 §122-1371 transient licensing)
Summary of the rule
Transient and residential development in Key West is governed by the Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS, also known as ROGO, the Rate of Growth Ordinance), which has capped annual growth since 1993. The city states there is 'a current cap on new transient licenses' and that limited zoning districts plus strict parking and density rules 'make it very difficult, if not impossible, to convert a residential property to transient use.' New transient allocations are not barred outright (a 2012 Hurricane Evacuation MOU allocated 91 new residential, transient and affordable units a year through July 2023), but the pool of transient licenses is capped and scarce, not freely obtainable.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 10, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Key West · system last checked Oct 24, 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.