Hi, I'm trying to find out about zoning rules with regards to Florida rental property.?

in florida you buy property but the local governments tell you what you can do with it. The trend started about 15 years ago with the " acceptable use and occupancy certificates" and is getting worse everyday.

The idea was to restrict development that did not meet the 100 year plan of that county. Some areas like the panhandle and tallahassee are somewhat liberal while coastal counties are hard core. When I lived in florida i was told by the building department that " i will not even allow you to build a doghouse on your property ". Needless to say... that's why i now live in new mexico. Many of the old long term residents of florida have moved to the carolina's and west.

Zoning permits authorize the use of structures. They are also called "Certificates," as they certify the structure for its intended use.

A Certificate of Use is required prior to opening any business in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

If you own property you need to get a permit from the city and/or county before you even dig a hole on or near your property. Making an addition to your home for instance requires prior permission. You cannot rent a property without prior permission either. Some people do and nothing really happens. If the property is not in shape itll call someones attention and you can be ticketed or fined. However, it ialways wise to get all the necessary permits to avoid fines or worse.

They vary by city and/or county.

Here are some of the websites for the most popular cities in Florida:

Just look in yahoo or google for 'zoning rules miami'

for example and then look in the city website for permits and licenses or zoning regulations.

Good luck!

every town is going to have different zoning laws - just renting a house to someone to live in shouldn't require any zoning variance - it's still being used as a residence, not as a place of business