Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Destin?

Yes. Destin requires Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums), and the fee is $500. Short-term rentals (stays of six months or less) are legal in Destin but only in designated zoning districts, and every STR - including, as of the 2026 season, condominiums - must hold an annual City of Destin Short-Term Rental Registration costing $500-$700 per year based on square footage, plus a city business tax receipt, a Florida DBPR vacation rental license, and state/county tax accounts. The biggest constraints are the zoning-district eligibility rules (with Conditional Use or Change of Use approval required in some districts) and the overnight occupancy cap of 2 per bedroom plus 4, maxing at 24 people; guests also pay roughly 13% combined taxes, with the county's 6% bed tax remitted by the host, not by Airbnb/Vrbo. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Destin?

The Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) fee in Destin is $500, renewed annual. Tiered by gross square footage, identical for single-family/duplex/townhome and condo registrations per the city's 2026 guide: $500 (up to 2,499 sq ft), $600 (2,500-4,999 sq ft), $700 (5,000+ sq ft). Non-refundable application fee due at submission; paper applications may incur an extra administrative fee. Late renewal fees per city FAQ: $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1 (the codified ordinance text still recites a $50 late fee after March 1 - the FAQ/fee-resolution amounts appear to be current). Registrants also need a City of Destin Business Tax Receipt (separate cost).

How to get a short-term rental permit in Destin, FL (2026)

Destin requires Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) — the fee is $500, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums)
Permit fee	$500
Renewal	Annual

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs must be located in an eligible district under Article 7 of Destin's Land Development Code. Eligible districts per the city's 2026 STR Registration Guide: Crystal Beach Resort (CBR), Crystal Beach Neighborhood (CBN; multi-family needs Conditional Use), Low Density Residential-Holiday Isle (LDR-HI), Bay Resort Mixed-use (BRMU), Calhoun Mixed-use (CMU), Calhoun Mixed-use-Village (CMU-V; needs Conditional Use), Commercial General (CG), Gulf Resort Mixed-use (GRMU), High Density Residential (HDR), Holiday Isle Mixed-use (HIMU), Medium Density Residential-Holiday Isle (MDR-HI), North Harbor Mixed-use (NHMU), ROI-Tourist Development (ROI-TD), South Harbor Mixed-use (SHMU; single-family needs Conditional Use), and Town Center Mixed-use (TCMU; multi-family needs Conditional Use). A Change of Use approval (with site plan and parking plan) may be required, and STRs must provide 1 parking space per bedroom (2 total spaces if the house was built before December 5, 2016).
2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums)
Submit the Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) application to Destin and pay the $500 fee. Tiered by gross square footage, identical for single-family/duplex/townhome and condo registrations per the city's 2026 guide: $500 (up to 2,499 sq ft), $600 (2,500-4,999 sq ft), $700 (5,000+ sq ft). Non-refundable application fee due at submission; paper applications may incur an extra administrative fee. Late renewal fees per city FAQ: $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1 (the codified ordinance text still recites a $50 late fee after March 1 - the FAQ/fee-resolution amounts appear to be current). Registrants also need a City of Destin Business Tax Receipt (separate cost).
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Destin. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment Destin changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

Watch Destin for changes →

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Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Destin before applying.

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