24 Oct Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL Guide (2026): Low-Rise Beach Town, Taxes, Inspections and Town Services

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL Guide (2026): Low-Rise Beach Town, Taxes, Inspections and Town Services

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a small Broward County beach town between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, just north of Fort Lauderdale. The Town says it has limited building heights since 1973 to keep its small-town character and ocean views. The 2020 Census counted 6,198 residents. Its operating tax rate for 2025–26 is 3.9000 mills, and its buildings follow Broward County’s 25-year building safety inspection program. Fire rescue and EMS have been provided by the City of Pompano Beach since September 1, 2023.

This guide uses official Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Broward County and State of Florida sources, checked October 24, 2026. It is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.

On This Page

• Lauderdale-by-the-Sea at a glance
• A Low-Rise town
• Property taxes
• Building safety inspections
• Vacation rentals
• Anglin’s Pier
• A short history
• Nearby towns
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea at a Glance

A Low-Rise Town

According to the Town, it began “severely limiting building heights” in 1973 to keep its small-town character and ocean views, and it still does. For buyers, the height limits shape the scale of the town’s oceanfront buildings and what can be built next door. The Town’s population was about 1,300 in 1960 and more than doubled in October 2001, when it annexed the Intracoastal Beach Area.

Property Taxes

The Town set its operating tax rate at 3.9000 mills for 2025–26, down from 3.9235 in 2024–25, according to the Florida Department of Revenue. That is $3.90 for every $1,000 of taxable value, and it is only the Town’s share; your total bill also includes Broward County, the school board and other taxing districts. A property’s assessed and taxable values are on the Broward County Property Appraiser website. After a sale, the property is generally reassessed at full market (just) value as of January 1 of the following year, so the buyer does not inherit the seller’s capped assessed value; only the buyer’s own exemptions and any homestead portability benefit the buyer qualifies for apply (sections 193.155, 193.1554 and 193.1555, Florida Statutes).

Building Safety Inspections

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is in Broward County, where the Board of Rules and Appeals’ Building Safety Inspection Program (BORA Policy 05-05) requires structural and electrical inspections when a building turns 25, counted from its certificate of occupancy, and every 10 years after that, with listed exemptions such as one- to four-family homes of three or fewer habitable stories. The policy treats the inspection as compliance for both phases of Florida’s milestone inspection. Ask the Town’s Building Division (954-640-4215) or the association for a building’s latest report. Florida also requires a structural integrity reserve study (SIRS) at least every 10 years for condominium buildings of three or more habitable stories. As a buyer of a resale condo, you are entitled, at the seller’s expense, to the summary of the milestone inspection report (if applicable) and the association’s most recent SIRS, or a statement that the association has not completed one (section 718.503(2)(a)). Florida requires sellers of residential property to give a flood disclosure at or before signing the contract (section 689.302).

Vacation Rentals

The Town requires an annual rental certificate and inspection for each vacation rental unit, and a property may not be rented or advertised until it is approved. Occupancy is limited to two people per bedroom, plus two more for each additional 200 square feet of interior living area, with a maximum of ten. Single-family homes and townhomes have a seven-day minimum stay. The Town’s application package lists a $775 certificate fee (plus $275 for each additional unit on multi-unit properties) and a $75 fire inspection fee for single-family homes, townhomes and split-lot duplexes. A rental agent must be reachable around the clock and able to reach the property within three hours. Your condo association may have stricter rules.

Anglin’s Pier

The Town says Anglin’s Pier is privately owned and closed to the public for safety reasons, while the attached Anglin’s Beach Café remains open. The Town says the owner has been working through state, federal and county permitting and engineering for repairs: geotechnical borings were completed in January 2026 and design work began in February 2026, and the Town has reported code-compliance fines accruing at $200 a day since January 2022.

A Short History

According to the Town, Boston businessman William F. Morang bought and platted the property in 1924. Melvin I. Anglin, a building contractor and real estate investor from Gary, Indiana, later acquired the land and became the Town’s first mayor. The Town was first incorporated on November 30, 1927, lost its charter when the state revoked it in 1933, and reincorporated in 1949.

Nearby Towns

• Pompano Beach, FL guide
• Fort Lauderdale, FL guide
• Deerfield Beach, FL guide

Before you sign, use our Florida condo due diligence checklist.

• Lauderdale-by-the-Sea oceanfront condos: every building on A1A and El Mar Drive
• Pompano Beach new construction condos

Condo owners and buyers may also want Broward vs. Palm Beach County condo inspection rules, Florida condo special assessments explained, Selling a Florida condo in 2026 and Florida milestone inspection and SIRS guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there no high-rises in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

The Town says it has severely limited building heights since 1973 to preserve its small-town character and ocean views.

Who provides fire rescue in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

The City of Pompano Beach has provided fire and EMS services to the Town since September 1, 2023.

Is Anglin’s Pier open?

Not as of October 2026. The Town says the privately owned pier is closed for safety reasons while the owner works through permitting and design for repairs; the café remains open.

What is the property tax rate in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

The Town’s operating rate is 3.9000 mills for fiscal year 2025–26, down from 3.9235 in 2024–25. Your total bill also includes county, school and other district rates.

Sources

Checked October 24, 2026:

• Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea: Home page, Town History, Fire & EMS and Anglin’s Pier FAQ
• Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea: Anglin’s Pier Timeline, Building Division, Broward Sheriff’s Office and Vacation Rental Application Package
• Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Population Estimates by County and Municipality (April 1, 2025)
• Florida Department of Revenue, Comparison of Taxes Levied, FY 2024-25 and 2025-26 (Broward)
• BORA Policy 05-05, Building Safety Inspection Program (effective August 9, 2024)
• Sections 718.112, 718.503 and 689.302, Florida Statutes (2026)

Last updated October 24, 2026. Building details come from county property records, public listings and government sources and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Prices are asking prices or estimates as of the date shown. Not legal, financial or engineering advice. Full disclaimer