24 Oct Lighthouse Point, FL Guide (2026): Waterfront Living, Taxes, Inspections and Rental Rules

Lighthouse Point, FL Guide (2026): Waterfront Living, Taxes, Inspections and Rental Rules

Lighthouse Point is a small Broward County city on the Intracoastal Waterway, between Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach. It was incorporated as a town on June 13, 1956 and became a city in 1957. The U.S. Census Bureau counted 10,486 residents in 2020 on 2.31 square miles of land. The city runs its own police department and fire rescue, and its operating tax rate for 2025–26 is 4.4207 mills. The Census Bureau’s median value for owner-occupied homes in Lighthouse Point is $688,400 (2020–2024 estimate).

This guide uses official City of Lighthouse Point, Broward County, U.S. Census Bureau and State of Florida sources, checked October 24, 2026. It is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.

On This Page

• Lighthouse Point at a glance
• Property taxes
• Building safety inspections
• Transient rental rules
• Flood information
• Police and fire rescue
• A short history
• Nearby towns
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources

Lighthouse Point at a Glance

Property Taxes

The City of Lighthouse Point set its operating tax rate at 4.4207 mills for 2025–26, up from 4.1329 in 2024–25, according to the Florida Department of Revenue. That is $4.4207 for every $1,000 of taxable value, and it is only the city’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, and its tax bills are on the Broward County tax collector’s website. After a sale, the property is 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). Don’t assume the seller’s tax bill will carry over.

Building Safety Inspections

The City’s building inspections page says Broward County requires building safety inspections on buildings over 25 years old and over 3,500 square feet, and that single-family homes, duplexes and buildings under 3,500 square feet are exempt. The county policy itself is more specific: it exempts single-family, two-family, three-family and four-family dwellings with three or fewer habitable stories, fee-simple townhouses and minor structures under 3,500 square feet (along with government, school-board, tribal and railroad buildings), so check with the Building Department if you are unsure whether a property is covered. The county program (BORA Policy 05-05) requires structural and electrical inspections at 25 years, counted from the certificate of occupancy, and every 10 years after that, and treats them as compliance for both phases of Florida’s milestone inspection. The City also warns that some engineering and architecture firms send inspection notices to owners whose property may not be subject to the requirement, and that it does not endorse those firms. Questions go to Building & Zoning at 954-943-6509.

For condominium buildings of three or more habitable stories, Florida also requires a structural integrity reserve study (SIRS) at least every 10 years. 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)). See our Broward vs. Palm Beach County inspection rules guide.

Transient Rental Rules

Lighthouse Point regulates transient rentals under Ordinance No. 2022-0996. The City defines a transient rental as a single-family, two-, three- or four-family home or dwelling unit, or a condominium or cooperative unit, that is rented to transient occupants for periods of six months or less or advertised as such, including vacation rentals. The rules:

• The owner must obtain an annual Transient Rental Certificate of Compliance for each dwelling unit. The certificate cannot be transferred, so a new owner must get a new one.
• Occupancy is limited to one person per 150 gross square feet of permitted air-conditioned living space and two people per bedroom.
• Each rental has an overall cap of 8 transient occupants in the RS-3 and RS-5 zoning districts and 16 in other districts.
• The City’s fee schedule (Resolution 2015-2042) lists a $750 initial application and a $500 renewal. Applications go to Code Enforcement (954-784-3409).

Your condo or homeowners association may have stricter rules than the City, so read the declaration before you buy.

Flood Information

• Flood-prone area. The City says Lighthouse Point is in a flood-prone area and links to FEMA’s flood map tool so owners can look up their zone.
• Elevation certificates. The Building Department has elevation certificates for some properties in the floodplain, available on request (954-943-6509).
• Flood insurance. Most standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, so ask about a separate flood policy before you close.
• Seller flood disclosure. Florida requires sellers of residential property to give a flood disclosure at or before signing the contract (section 689.302).

Police and Fire Rescue

Lighthouse Point has its own police department, which describes itself as 50 professionals plus volunteers. It also has its own fire rescue department, which became a paid professional department on October 1, 1972, after starting as a volunteer department in 1963. In 2017 the City’s fire protection was upgraded to an ISO Public Protection Class 2. The City notes that this rating positively affects fire insurance premium rates in the community.

A Short History

According to the City, the first home was built in 1947, and in 1951 the first home in a new subdivision called Hillsboro Isles was completed. On June 13, 1956, residents voted to incorporate the Town of Lighthouse Point, which received its state charter as a city in June 1957. A 1970 annexation of Coral Key and Pompano Waterway Estates brought the land area to 2.36 square miles (the City’s figure at the time) and the population to nearly 9,500. Cap’s Place was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 (National Park Service reference 90001227).

Nearby Towns

• Deerfield Beach, FL guide
• Hillsboro Beach, FL guide and Hillsboro Beach condos
• Pompano Beach new construction condos

Before you sign, use our Florida condo due diligence checklist. If you are selling a condo, see Selling a Florida Condo in 2026.

• Pompano Beach, FL guide

Condo owners and buyers may also want Florida condo special assessments explained and Florida milestone inspection and SIRS guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lighthouse Point, FL?

The 2020 Census counted 10,486 residents, and the Census Bureau estimated 10,756 as of July 1, 2025.

What is the property tax rate in Lighthouse Point?

The City’s operating rate is 4.4207 mills for fiscal year 2025–26, up from 4.1329 in 2024–25. Your total bill also includes county, school and other district rates.

Can I rent my Lighthouse Point home or condo short term?

Rentals of six months or less are transient rentals under the City’s ordinance and need an annual Transient Rental Certificate of Compliance, with occupancy limits. Association rules may be stricter.

Do Lighthouse Point buildings need 25-year inspections?

Under Broward County’s program (BORA Policy 05-05), buildings 25 years or older and 3,500 square feet or larger generally need building safety inspections; the policy exempts one- to four-family dwellings with three or fewer habitable stories, fee-simple townhouses and certain other buildings.

Does Lighthouse Point have its own police and fire department?

Yes. The City runs both, and its fire protection has an ISO Class 2 rating since 2017.

Sources

Checked October 24, 2026:

• City of Lighthouse Point: History, Building Inspections, Transient Rentals, Flood Information, Police Department, Fire Rescue and ISO Class 2 Rating
• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lighthouse Point city, Florida
• 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