Short-Term Rental Laws in St. Augustine, FL (2026)
St. Augustine allows short-term rentals citywide but requires an annual city Short Term Rental Registration (base fee $303.03 plus $79.30 per rental bedroom) with an annual life-safety, zoning and property-maintenance inspection. Nightly rentals are permitted in most zoning districts, but RS-1 and RS-2 single-family zones require minimum one-week stays and the HP-1 historic district requires monthly-or-longer rentals. Occupancy is capped at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 children under 18, with an absolute maximum of 12 occupants per rental.
Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 9 official sources. How we verify data
St. Augustine STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short Term Rental Registration |
| Permit fee | $303.03 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~11.5% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | Each registered rental is inspected at registration and annually thereafter by the City (Fire Department life-safety inspection plus zoning and property-maintenance compliance). |
| Current rules effective | 2020-07-01 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a St. Augustine stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for St. Augustine, FL — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
St. Augustine occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax) (6%)· collection varies | $27.00 |
| St. Johns County Discretionary Sales Surtax (0.5%)· collection varies | $2.25 |
| St. Johns County Tourist Development Tax (5%)· host remits | $22.50 |
| Total tax (11.5%) | $51.75 |
| Guest pays | $501.75 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
St. Augustine requires Short Term Rental Registration to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $303.03, renewed annually.
Tiered rate schedule adopted by Resolution 2025-41 (effective with the Oct 1, 2025 registration cycle): base rate $303.03 per unit plus $79.30 per rental bedroom. Examples: studio $303.03; 1 bedroom $382.33; 2 bedrooms $461.63; 5+ bedrooms $699.53. Late renewal fee $100; re-inspection fee $50. Fees are not prorated for late/new registrations after the October 1 deadline. permit_fee_cents reflects the base rate (studio) only.
Zoning & location rules
Short-term rentals are allowed in all zoning districts with approved registration, but the minimum rental period varies by zone: in most zoning districts rentals may be nightly; in RS-1 and RS-2 (single-family residential) zones units may only be rented for periods of one week or longer (nightly rentals are treated as a motel use and prohibited); in HP-1 (Historic Preservation-1) units may only be rented for monthly or greater periods. Vacation-rental standards are codified at City Code Chapter 28, Sections 28-145 through 28-154 (Ordinance 2019-50), with RS-1/RS-2 weekly-rental registration under Section 28-159 (Ordinance 2010-24).
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax)6% state sales tax on rentals of 182 nights or shorter. Airbnb collects and remits statewide; hosts taking direct bookings must register with the Florida Department of Revenue and remit themselves. | 6% | varies |
| St. Johns County Discretionary Sales Surtax0.5% county surtax (FL DOR DR-15DSS, calendar year 2026; effective Jan 1, 2016, expires Dec 31, 2035), remitted with state sales tax. Collected by Airbnb on platform bookings; host-remitted for direct bookings. | 0.5% | varies |
| St. Johns County Tourist Development Tax5% bed tax on stays of six months or less, per county Ordinance 2021-43 effective October 1, 2021. Platforms (Airbnb/Vrbo) do NOT collect it for St. Johns County; owners/agents must register with the St. Johns County Tax Collector and remit monthly (returns due 1st, delinquent after the 20th). A 2.5% collection allowance (max $30) applies to timely correct filings. | 5% | host |
Enforcement & penalties
Each registered rental is inspected at registration and annually thereafter by the City (Fire Department life-safety inspection plus zoning and property-maintenance compliance). Each unit must have a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy/emergency information, and one stabilized parking space per bedroom offered for rent. If the City operates its complaint-processing system, the owner or property manager must acknowledge receipt of a compliance complaint within 30 minutes of notification; failure to respond is itself a violation. Ancillary guests must vacate between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am.
The STR ordinance sets no fixed municipal fine schedule; violations of Sections 28-145 through 28-156 and 28-159 may be prosecuted through Article VI Code Enforcement or any other available remedy, including revocation of the vacation rental registration. Administrative charges: $100 late renewal fee, $50 re-inspection fee. Separately, delinquent county Tourist Development Tax incurs a penalty of 10% per 30 days (or fraction) up to 50% of taxes due, minimum $50, plus interest.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Getting legal in St. Augustine: the playbook
Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.
- 1
Verify your zoning
Location rules apply: Short-term rentals are allowed in all zoning districts with approved registration, but the minimum rental period varies by zone: in most zoning districts rentals may be nightly; in RS-1 and RS-2 (single-family residential) zones units may only be rented for periods of one week or longer (nightly rentals are treated as a motel use and prohibited); in HP-1 (Historic Preservation-1) units may only be rented for monthly or greater periods. Vacation-rental standards are codified at City Code Chapter 28, Sections 28-145 through 28-154 (Ordinance 2019-50), with RS-1/RS-2 weekly-rental registration under Section 28-159 (Ordinance 2010-24). Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.
- 2
Check the covenant layer
HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
- 3
Apply for the Short Term Rental Registration
Budget $303.03, renewed annually. 30 per rental bedroom. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.
- 4
Set up tax collection & remittance
Platforms don't collect everything here: Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax) (6%), St. Johns County Discretionary Sales Surtax (0.5%), St. Johns County Tourist Development Tax (5%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.
- 5
Calendar the renewal before you forget it
This permit renews annually (budget $303.03 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.
- 6
Know the cost of getting it wrong
The STR ordinance sets no fixed municipal fine schedule; violations of Sections 28-145 through 28-156 and 28-159 may be prosecuted through Article VI Code Enforcement or any other available remedy, including revocation of the vacation rental registration. Administrative charges: $100 late renewal fee, $50 re-inspection fee. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.
Recent rule changes in St. Augustine
October 1, 2025material
Registration fees increased under Resolution 2025-41
The City Commission adopted a new tiered fee schedule (Resolution 2025-41), the first fee adjustment in five years: base registration fee rose from $294.48 to $303.03 per unit (+2.9%) and the per-bedroom charge from $73.81 to $79.30 (+7.4%). The new schedule took effect October 1, 2025, the start of the city's fiscal year and annual registration cycle.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in St. Augustine?
Airbnb is legal in St. Augustine, FL, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in St. Augustine?
Yes. St. Augustine requires a Short Term Rental Registration to operate a short-term rental, which costs $303.03 and must be renewed annually. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a St. Augustine short-term rental permit cost?
The Short Term Rental Registration costs $303.03 (annual renewal). Tiered rate schedule adopted by Resolution 2025-41 (effective with the Oct 1, 2025 registration cycle): base rate $303.03 per unit plus $79.30 per rental bedroom. Examples: studio $303.03; 1 bedroom $382.33; 2 bedrooms $461.63; 5+ bedrooms $699.53. Late renewal fee $100; re-inspection fee $50. Fees are not prorated for late/new registrations after the October 1 deadline. permit_fee_cents reflects the base rate (studio) only.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in St. Augustine?
Yes — St. Augustine does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in St. Augustine?
Hosts in St. Augustine are subject to: Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax) (6%), St. Johns County Discretionary Sales Surtax (0.5%), St. Johns County Tourist Development Tax (5%) — roughly 11.5% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in St. Augustine?
No — in St. Augustine hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in St. Augustine?
The STR ordinance sets no fixed municipal fine schedule; violations of Sections 28-145 through 28-156 and 28-159 may be prosecuted through Article VI Code Enforcement or any other available remedy, including revocation of the vacation rental registration. Administrative charges: $100 late renewal fee, $50 re-inspection fee. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.
›When did St. Augustine's current short-term rental rules take effect?
The current ordinance took effect on July 1, 2020. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.
St. Augustine's STR rules changed 1 time recently.
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More resources
- How to get a short-term rental permit in St. Augustine
- St. Augustine short-term rental taxes explained
- Can I Airbnb in St. Augustine?
- All Florida STR laws by city
- Occupancy tax calculator
- Compare STR permit costs across cities
- St. Augustine ranks among most expensive str permit cities
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- What is transient occupancy tax?
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Sources
- City of St. Augustine — Short Term Rentals (official program page)retrieved July 20, 2026
- City of St. Augustine — Ordinance 2019-50 (Short Term Rental Regulations, Secs. 28-145 to 28-154)retrieved July 20, 2026
- City of St. Augustine FAQ — Where are Short Term Rentals allowed in the City?retrieved July 20, 2026
- City of St. Augustine FAQ — Do Short Term Rentals need to be registered with the City?retrieved July 20, 2026
- St. Augustine, FL Code of Ordinances (Municode) — Chapter 28 Zoningretrieved July 20, 2026
- St. Johns County Tax Collector — Tourist Development Taxretrieved July 20, 2026
- Florida Dept. of Revenue — DR-15DSS Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for 2026retrieved July 20, 2026
- Airbnb Help — Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Floridaretrieved July 20, 2026
- St. Johns Citizen — Running a St. Augustine short term rental is about to get more expensive (Sept 18, 2025)retrieved July 20, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with St. Augustine and a qualified professional before operating.