Fort Lauderdale Landlord Requirements: Licenses, Registration & Rules
By Damelecia, Inc. · Reviewed by Melecia Johnson, Broker/Property Manager · FL Lic. BK3251569 · Broward County property management · last updated
Fort Lauderdale – Compliance Guide
By Damelecia, Inc. · Broward County property management · Updated June 2026
Fort Lauderdale is one of the more regulated rental markets in Broward County. Here’s what the city actually requires of landlords – and what it costs when you skip a step.
The compliance stack for long-term rentals
1. City Landlord Registration
Fort Lauderdale requires owners of residential rental properties to register each property with the city’s Code Compliance division through the LauderBuild portal, providing a phone number and email. Registration is free, but it’s per property – owners with rentals at multiple addresses register each one. The city uses it to reach you about code violations and emergencies.
2. Broward County Business Tax Receipt
Operating a rental is a business in Broward County’s eyes. A county business tax receipt is part of running compliant, and city-level tax receipts can apply depending on your setup.
3. Florida Statute Compliance
Security deposits must be handled per F.S. 83.49 – held in a Florida account with written notice to the tenant of where and how. Add fair housing law, proper notice procedures, and habitability standards, and the lease itself becomes a compliance document.
4. Code Compliance Readiness
The registration database exists so the city can cite you faster. Overgrown lots, exterior violations, unpermitted work, and tenant complaints all route to the owner of record. Unresolved violations become liens – and Fort Lauderdale liens accrue.
Damelecia manages long-term residential rentals only.
What trips owners up most
In our experience, it’s rarely the big-ticket items. It’s the property that was never registered after the ordinance took effect. The deposit sitting in a personal account with no written notice. The out-of-state owner who never sees the code violation letter until it’s a lien. None of these are expensive to do right – all of them are expensive to do wrong.
How a manager handles this for you
When Damelecia takes on a Fort Lauderdale property, compliance is built into onboarding: registration verified, deposits held per F.S. 83.49, leases executed to Florida statute, code notices intercepted and resolved, and 1099s prepared at year end. On our standard Gold plan, you get 10% of rent collected – one-month leasing fee on a new lease – vacant months $0 – no renewal fee, no setup fee, no maintenance markup – and no certified letters from the city you didn’t see coming.
Own a Fort Lauderdale rental?
Get a free compliance and rent review from a Broward County brokerage based in Plantation.
See our Fort Lauderdale property management page, or our guide to Fort Lauderdale rental pricing in 2026. Also serving Oakland Park and Pompano Beach.
Ready for numbers on your property?
Request a free rental analysis for your Broward County or Boca Raton rental. You can also review our published fees first.
Free rental analysis Pricing Contact (954) 860-7493
Plans from 8%, with our standard Gold plan at 10% of rent collected · on Gold, vacant months $0 and no setup fee · no maintenance markup on any plan · one-month leasing fee on a new lease.
