The Division of Hotels and Restaurants (H&R) licenses, inspects and regulates public lodging and food service establishments in Florida under Chapter 509, Florida Statutes (FS). The division also licenses and regulates elevators, escalators and other vertical conveyance devices under Chapter 399, FS.
Important Notice for Florida’s Lodging Industry – Human Trafficking Awareness – Legislative Update – Lodging Industry Bulletin
Important Notice for Florida’s Lodging Industry – Changes to Chapter 509, Florida Statutes “Miya’s Law” – Lodging Industry Bulletin
Special Process Webpage
For information and guidance regarding a Special Process (HACCP & Variances) click here.
Vacation Rentals – Searchable Rental Unit Addresses
The Division of Hotels & Restaurants is pleased to announce that it has developed an easily searchable online database of licensed vacation rentals. This database provides the location address of every vacation rental condo or dwelling that is currently licensed by the Division of Hotels & Restaurants. It refreshes daily to reflect the most up-to-date information, as provided by our licensees. The division believes this will be a valuable tool for local governments and vacation rental guests that will assist with verifying that a condo or dwelling is properly licensed with the Division of Hotels & Restaurants as a public lodging establishment. Click the link to view the Vacation Rental Database.
The Department’s online account service offers the ability for vacation rental license holders to review and make changes to the rental unit addresses covered by their license. License holders can add or remove rental units from their vacation rental license at any time. Address changes made online integrate into the Department’s records immediately and are reflected in the public vacation rental database within 24hrs . This improved functionality supplants Form 7010 that the division previously collected from its licensees when processing requests for vacation rental address changes. The division expects this improvement to simplify the process of managing a vacation rental license.
Current information on COVID-19
On March 1, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Surgeon General to declare a public health emergency and to coordinate the state’s emergency response activities as necessary to protect the public in the prevention and control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). For information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida, visit the Florida Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage at http://www.floridahealth.gov/COVID-19.
Self-print Licenses for Food & Lodging
Every day DBPR works to improve the way we do business. In this effort to serve you better we are pleased to inform you the Division of Hotels & Restaurants is moving to paperless licenses. Licensees have the ability to self-print their license(s) electronically through their DBPR online account. Self-print (digital) licenses are in PDF format and are emailed as an attachment to the email address associated with the DBPR online account. This process significantly reduces the time and expense it would otherwise take to distribute licenses by mail. We are nearing the end of the transition period in which licensees without a DBPR Account continue to receive a hard copy paper license via US mail.
Please create a DBPR account now to manage your license now. New business owners should begin by applying online, all food and lodging license applications are available through our online services. With an account owners can perform routine license maintenance through our website, including renewals, renewal invoices, payments, mailing address updates, duplicate licenses and new applications. An account also enables electronic payments via our DBPR mobile app available from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Go to My Account and set up your account now.
Online Accounts – Video Help
Transition to the 2017 FDA Food Code
Effective November 1, 2019, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants has adopted the 2017 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code, which establishes practical, science-based guidance and enforceable provisions for reducing risk factors known to cause or contribute to foodborne illness. There are some major changes food service operators licensed by the Division should carefully review to ensure they are in compliance. For more information please visit our Inspections page.
Human Trafficking Awareness
In 2019 section 509.096 was added to Chapter 509, Florida Statutes. This section requires all public lodging establishments to provide annual training on human trafficking awareness to employees of the establishment who perform housekeeping duties in the rental units or who work at the front desk or reception area where guests check in or check out. The training must be provided for new employees within 60 days after they begin employment in a housekeeping or reception area role, or by January 1, 2021, whichever occurs later. For more information please visit our Human Trafficking Awareness page.
