How to get a short-term rental permit in Santa Rosa Beach, FL (2026)
Santa Rosa Beach requires Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Walton County Vacation Rental Registration Program) — the fee is $300, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Walton County Vacation Rental Registration Program) |
| Permit fee | $300 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs are broadly permitted: Walton County LDC 2.02.00(Q)(2) makes short-term vacation rental use permissible in every zoning district allowing single-family detached, single-family attached, or multi-family residential uses (including Residential Preservation), subject to neighborhood-compatibility standards — parking at 1 space per 900 sq ft for new construction/conversions, residential character, and internal design that does not facilitate rental of individual rooms. STRs are restricted to residential use only and may not be advertised as event venues, wedding locations, or pop-up retail; RVs and vessels may not be used as short-term vacation rentals. Maximum occupancy is 1 person per 150 sq ft of gross floor area. Owner-occupied homesteaded dwellings and active recorded condominiums (F.S. 718) are exempt from the county certificate.
- 2
Apply for the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Walton County Vacation Rental Registration Program)
Submit the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate (Walton County Vacation Rental Registration Program) application to Santa Rosa Beach and pay the $300 fee. Fee schedule per Walton County BCC Resolution 2024-57, effective Feb 1, 2025: $300.00/property for individual registration (standard case); $227.00/property under a community registration (HOA/co-op community certificate); $125.00 Managing Agent modification; $25.00 Local Responsible Party modification; $100.00 paper-application processing; $500.00/day for operating without registration. Each dwelling unit needs its own certificate, and certificates do not transfer on sale of the property. Separate Florida DBPR vacation-rental license fees also apply at the state level.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa Beach changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Santa Rosa Beach for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Santa Rosa Beach before applying.