How to get a short-term rental permit in St. Augustine, FL (2026)
St. Augustine requires Short Term Rental Registration — the fee is $303.03, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short Term Rental Registration |
| Permit fee | $303.03 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. 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).
- 2
Apply for the Short Term Rental Registration
Submit the Short Term Rental Registration application to St. Augustine and pay the $303.03 fee. 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.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for St. Augustine. 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 St. Augustine changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch St. Augustine 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 St. Augustine before applying.