How to get a short-term rental permit in Panama City Beach, FL (2026)
Panama City Beach requires Vacation Rental Certificate — the fee is $250, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Vacation Rental Certificate |
| Permit fee | $250 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. No zoning-district restrictions: the Vacation Rental Certificate program applies citywide to any condominium/cooperative unit or 1-4 family dwelling used as a transient public lodging establishment. Florida Statutes 509.032(7)(b) preempts local ordinances adopted after June 1, 2011 from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating rental duration or frequency, so the city regulates through registration, life-safety inspection, and occupancy limits (150 sq ft gross floor area per person for 1-2 family dwellings; 200 sq ft per person for other vacation rentals, reducible to 150 sq ft if egress requirements are met) rather than location.
- 2
Apply for the Vacation Rental Certificate
Submit the Vacation Rental Certificate application to Panama City Beach and pay the $250 fee. $250 new registration fee; $150 annual re-registration fee; $75 re-inspection fee if a follow-up inspection is required; $100 lock-out/no-show fee if the fire inspector cannot access the unit. Fees are set by City Council resolution. Separate prerequisites with their own costs: Florida DBPR vacation rental license, Bay County Tourist Development Tax registration, Panama City Beach Business Tax Receipt (merchant business tax license), and pool licensing/inspection if applicable.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Panama City Beach. 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 Panama City Beach changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Panama City Beach for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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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 Panama City Beach before applying.