Rental Property Registration
Effective January 1, 2026, residential rental property registration is required on an annual basis, and owners must renew the registration for each registered property every year.
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Fee Schedule (Resolution 279-25)
Pursuant to Resolution 279‑25, the City Council has established the following annual registration fees for residential rental properties, effective January 1, 2026:
- Long‑Term Residential Rental Property: $35 annual registration fee per property (rented for a period greater than 6 months).
- Short‑Term Residential Rental Property: $350 annual registration fee per property (rented for a period of 6 months or less).
Key Details
- Registration Required: All residential rentals must in Cape Coral must be registered with the City.
- Fines for Non-Compliance: Violations can result in a $1,000 for the first offense, a $2,000 for the second, and additional penalties for repeat offenses.
- Purpose of Fees: To recover costs related to code enforcement, police services and compliance/monitoring systems.
- Contact Information: Owners must provide current contact information and notify the City of any changes within 30 days.
- Renewal Date: The renewal deadline is the anniversary of your original registration date, not necessarily January 1.
- Late Fee: A $50 late fee applies if a residential rental property is not renewed within 30 days of its registration anniversary date.
Owners of residential rental property in Cape Coral are encouraged to review Section 12‑129 of the City Code and Resolution 279‑25 in full and to ensure that all residential rental properties are properly registered, renewed annually, and kept current to avoid late fees and civil penalties.
Questions? Email rentalregistrations@capecoral.gov or call 239-574-0601. Office hours are Monday - Friday: 8am - 4pm.
All residential rental properties in Cape Coral must register annually, pay an annual fee, and comply with updated enforcement rules adopted by City Council.
Any property owner renting out a residential property in Cape Coral — including single-family homes, duplexes, condos, and multi-family dwellings — must register each rental property.
Yes. Both long-term rentals (leased for more than six months) and short-term rentals (leased for six months or less) must register.
- Long-term rentals: $35 per property per year
- Short-term rentals: $350 per property per year
Starting January 2, 2026, visit CapeCoral.gov/RentalRegistration to register or renew online, get complete instructions, and make payments.
Renewals are based on the date you first registered — not January 1. You’ll receive a reminder notice before your renewal date.
Failing to register will result in a $50 fine and referral to Code Compliance for enforcement.
If you don’t renew within 30 days of your anniversary date, you’ll receive a $50 fine and be referred to Code Compliance. Additional penalties apply based on rental type.
- Long-term rentals: $250 for the first offense; $500 for repeat offenses
- Short-term rentals: $500 for the first offense; $1,000 for repeat offenses
Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. Penalties cannot be reduced by the Special Magistrate.
Yes. Registering a short-term rental as long-term (or not registering at all) can result in serious penalties:
- First offense: $1,000
- Repeat offenses within 36 months: $2,000
Email RentalRegistrations@CapeCoral.gov within 30 days to mark your account inactive and prevent a renewal invoice. Fees are not refunded once paid.
Before registering, check if you already have a Citizen Self Service (CSS) account from a previous permit or registration.
You’ll need:
- An active email address and password for account setup
- Contact details (email, phone, mailing address) for the owner or property manager
- The property address
If your property manager changes, or you stop renting, notify the city within 30 days at RentalRegistrations@CapeCoral.gov.
Renewals can be done online beginning January 2, 2026 at CapeCoral.gov/RentalRegistration. You’ll get an email reminder 30 days before your renewal date to log in and pay your fee.
New accounts can also be created online after January 2, 2026 at CapeCoral.gov/RentalRegistration. Follow the instructions to register your rental property.
Before registering, confirm whether your property qualifies as long-term (more than six months) or short-term (six months or less).
If you registered incorrectly, contact RentalRegistrations@CapeCoral.gov immediately to update your record.
A residential rental property is any dwelling or living unit rented or leased to another person or entity. This includes apartments, condos, and single-family homes.
It does not include:
- Units owned by federal, state, or local housing programs
- Hotels or motels
- Licensed community residential facilities
It refers to any arrangement — written or verbal — that allows someone else to occupy the property. You don’t need to submit a copy of the agreement when registering.
Yes. If your property has a homestead exemption, you must contact the Lee County Property Appraiser to confirm whether your exemption still applies.
If you rent a property that has a homestead exemption, you must update your records. The City will also notify the Property Appraiser if a property is found in violation and still claims the exemption.
Funds collected from fines help support code enforcement, police services, and rental registration program administration.
Call 239-574-0601 or email RentalRegistrations@CapeCoral.gov for any questions about the program, registration process, or penalties.