How to get a short-term rental permit in Walton County, FL (2026)
Walton County 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. No zoning districts prohibit STRs in unincorporated Walton County; the certificate ordinance applies county-wide (the 30A corridor lies in unincorporated South Walton). Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) preempts local governments (for ordinances adopted after June 1, 2011) from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating their duration or frequency, so the county regulates impacts instead: maximum occupancy of one person per 150 sq ft of living space, certified off-street parking (one space per 900 sq ft heated/cooled for new construction), noise (10 p.m.-6 a.m. quiet hours), trash, exterior signage with the county STR hotline number, and sea-turtle lighting notices in the Wildlife Protection Zone.
- 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 Walton County and pay the $300 fee. $300/year per individually registered dwelling unit; $227/year per unit under an HOA/co-op community certificate; $100 paper-application processing fee; $125 managing-agent modification; $25 local-responsible-party modification. Current fee schedule set by BCC Resolution 2024-57, effective February 1, 2025. Exempt: condominiums under F.S. 718, owner-occupied homesteaded homes, and multi-family (4+ connected units) under a common rental management company.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Walton County. 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 Walton County changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Walton County for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 12, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Walton County before applying.