Division of Hotels and Restaurants

Lodging News

All information on this page is current and was last reviewed by the division on August 22, 2011.

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Apply Online for Food and Lodging Licenses and Plan Review

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has upgraded its license application process, enabling the majority of applications for food service and lodging establishments to be completed online. The upgrade will have a significant impact on the length of time needed to process applications, allowing online applicants to bypass several components of the paper application system.

“Making the application process easier for licensees and potential licensees is going to help us keep Florida businesses strong,” said DBPR Secretary Ken Lawson. “The industry asked us to improve this procedure, and I’m pleased our technological upgrades have made this new system possible.”

Applicants may apply online for all food service, hotel, motel, apartment and rooming house licenses.  The department is also offering a complete option for online plan review submittal, includng the application, fees and all supporting documents. The Department plans to continue upgrading the applications process to an online system and will add applications for elevator- and escalator- related licenses in the future, as well as applications for licensed vacation rentals. Applicants for the various licenses can also still apply via hard copy applications, also available on our website.

Legislative Session changes Florida lodging laws

House Bill 883 changed the division’s license classifications and advisory council membership; local government vacation rental regulations; and the handbill distribution law.  House Bill 883 became effective when Governor Scott signed it into law (Ch. 2011-119, Laws of Florida (LOF)) on June 2, 2011. 

Ch. 2011-119, LOF, changes the name of “resort condominiums” and “resort dwellings” to “vacation rentals.”  The division will now issue all “resort” licenses as “vacation rental” licenses.  The bill also removes three-family units from the vacation rental classification and excludes lodging operated by non-profits for only patients, patients’ families, and caregivers from the definition of public lodging establishment.  Those specific lodging facilities are no longer required to have a license or inspections by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.  The division will notify the affected establishments as we identify them.

The law also prohibits local government laws from imposing new restrictions or regulations on vacation rentals with some exceptions and adds a representative from the Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants Advisory Council. 

The laws and penalties for unauthorized or illegal handbill distribution at public lodging establishments also changed.  The division does not enforce the handbill distribution law. You may want to contact your local law enforcement agency for information on enforcing the handbill distribution law.

Please contact the division if you have questions about these changes.

Revised Application Forms Now Available

The Division of Hotels and Restaurants has streamlined its food and lodging application forms to remove obsolete requirements and facilitate processing. While the division will continue to accept old forms, we highly recommend applicants begin using the new forms. To access these forms, click on the Apply for a License link above.

Carbon Monoxide Detector Regulation Transferred

The 2010 Legislature transferred regulation of carbon monoxide detectors under section 509.211(4), Florida Statutes, to the Division of State Fire Marshal, as of July 1, 2010. The division will stop enforcing the requirements on that date and all questions about carbon monoxide detectors in public lodging establishments should be directed to the Division of State Fire Marshal.

Carbon monoxide detectors were first required in boiler rooms in public lodging establishments by chapter 2007-181, Laws of Florida. The division started enforcing this requirement on July 1, 2007. See Industry Bulletin 2007-03 for more information.

Outstanding Tax Warrants May Impact Your License  

Public food service and public lodging licenses may now be subject to penalty for failing to pay outstanding taxes.  Changes to the Department of Revenue's laws allow the division to refuse to renew a license or to suspend a license if the licensee has an outstanding tax warrant for three months. Chapter 2010-166, Laws of Florida, took effect on May 28, 2010, when the Governor signed House Bill CS/HB 5801 into law. Chapter 2010-138, Laws of Florida, also allows this same license action.  The division is implementing these laws and will notify licensees at the time of renewal if the new law impacts your license.

Bed Bug Complaint Inspection Procedure Changes

As the result of worldwide concerns with increasing bed bug resurgence, in recent months the division's Office of Program Quality staff conducted research on how other inspection jurisdictions across the nation handle bed bug complaints and with pest control experts. The research greatly diminished our prior concerns of inspector contamination and transferring the bed bugs within establishments or to other establishments. As a result the division has become more proactive in the investigation of bed bug complaints. Although we have received relatively few founded complaints, our inspectors have been instructed to explain our position and remedies to operators where bedbugs are confirmed.

For more information about bed bug infestation, please see our Bed Bug Guide .

Changes to Law Affect the Hospitality Education Program and Room Rate Regulation

Effective October 1, 2009, the Hospitality Education Program (HEP) only administers the school-to-career grant and no longer provides training programs. Any licensee required to complete a HEP training program as part of a Settlement Agreement or Final Order should contact the division. The law, Chapter 2009-195, Laws of Florida, also repealed the requirement for public lodging establishments to file room rates with the division, post room rates in each room, and restrictions on advertisement wording and sizing. The repeal does not impact price-gouging laws enforced by the Attorney General or unethical business practice laws enforced by the division.

2008 Legislative Changes to Public Lodging Laws

Effective July 1, 2008, the division’s licensees no longer have to keep a copy of Chapter 509, FS, on premises and the definition of public lodging establishment separately defines transient and non-transient. The division may refuse to renew your license if you have past due fines and may file an administrative complaint against your license for failing to comply with a Final Order.  The division will not file an administrative complaint for violating fire safety codes, but will note the violation on your inspection and notify the State Fire Marshal or local fire authority of the violation. Requirements for the number of restrooms and restroom signage in a public food service establishment now falls under the Florida Building Code and the local building authorities.  The division still inspects restrooms for sanitation and safety issues and will ensure restrooms are provided for both employee and public use.

Boiler Safety Reminder

The Division of Hotels and Restaurants urges all lodging establishment owners/operators to check their water heating equipment for possible violations of boiler safety standards. Industry Bulletin #2007-01 contains more information about this important requirement.

House Rule Information for Transient Guest Ejection

Industry Bulletin #2003-01 reminds transient public lodging establishments of appropriate guest ejection procedures for transient guests claiming to be non-transient tenants.

Mold Infestation Information

Complaints regarding mold infestation are the fastest rising problem received by the division. Important Information Sheet #2002-04 is intended to provide information to public lodging operators regarding resources for combating mold infestations.