Santa Rosa Beach Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Individual)

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: Permitted in residential units subject to certificate; no zoning prohibition specified.

Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Community)

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Application Process

Apply/renew online through Walton County portal. Required forms: Application Checklist, notarized Affidavit of Compliance, Agent Affidavit. Prerequisites: FL DOR sales/use tax registration, DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants license, FL Dept of State business registration (if company-owned), and Walton County Clerk of Courts TDT registration. Interior inspections not required for certification but may occur via randomized selection.

Note: Document requirements vary by permit type. See individual permit sections above for eligibility details.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 12.0% of gross rental income.

Collection: Self-remit: Tourist Development Tax paid directly to Walton County Clerk (via waltontdt.munirevs.com); 6% state sales tax + 1% discretionary surtax paid to Florida DOR (Form DR-15). No platform auto-remits TDT.

Filing: Returns must be submitted each filing period even if no rental activity occurred; TDT filed with Walton County Clerk, sales tax/surtax filed with FL DOR on Form DR-15

Rental Limits

Santa Rosa Beach does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent. Each individual stay must be 6 months or less (definition of short-term rental).

Zoning & Restrictions

Short-term vacation rentals permitted in residential units county-wide subject to certificate; no zoning prohibition specified in sources

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Santa Rosa Beach does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• South Walton Fire District (SWFD) inspection checklist compliance
• Smoke alarm weekly test log (per DBPR)
• Certificate of balcony inspection where applicable (per DBPR)
• Compliance with Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code (F.S. § 553.80 and 633.206)

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Operating Without Registration: $500.00/day; Late Filing Fee: per policy; Paper Application Processing Fee: $100.00; violations found upon inspection must be corrected and re-inspected within 30 calendar days or subject to enforcement

Platform Requirements

• Rental ad platforms (Airbnb/VRBO) do NOT remit Tourist Development Tax to Walton County
• Hosts must self-remit TDT regardless of platform used

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Santa Rosa Beach:

1. Determine your permit type. Santa Rosa Beach has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Individual), Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Community)).
2. Meet safety requirements. South Walton Fire District (SWFD) inspection checklist compliance. Smoke alarm weekly test log (per DBPR). Certificate of balcony inspection where applicable (per DBPR). Compliance with Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code (F.S. § 553.80 and 633.206).
3. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application. Fees vary by type: Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Individual) $300.00; Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Community) $227.00. See permit types above to determine which applies.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Walton County Tourist Development Tax (Clerk of Courts & Comptroller) for TDT; Florida Department of Revenue for state sales tax and discretionary surtax.
5. Collect and remit taxes. 12.0% on all bookings.
6. Renew annually. Renewal fees vary by permit type ($300.00 / $227.00). See permit types above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Santa Rosa Beach?

Yes. Santa Rosa Beach requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Santa Rosa Beach?

Permit costs in Santa Rosa Beach vary by type: Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Individual) $300.00; Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Community) $227.00.

Does Santa Rosa Beach require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Santa Rosa Beach allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Santa Rosa Beach?

Santa Rosa Beach does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Santa Rosa Beach?

Short-term rental stays in Santa Rosa Beach are subject to a combined 12.0% in lodging taxes. This combines 6.0% Florida State Sales Tax + 1.0% Walton County Discretionary Sales Surtax + 5.0% South Walton Tourist Development Tax (TDT). The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.

What happens if you run a short-term rental without a permit in Santa Rosa Beach?

Operating without a permit can cost up to $500 per day.