Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Fernandina Beach?

**Yes**, Fernandina Beach requires a Resort Rental Permit for short-term rentals. You need this permit for all stays under 30 days, and it's only allowed in specific high-density and commercial zones. The city also requires an annual safety inspection to ensure compliance with local regulations. *(53 words)*

What is the TOT tax rate in Fernandina Beach?

**5% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate in Fernandina Beach. You need to collect this tax from your guests for any stay under 30 days. Make sure to remit the collected taxes to the city according to their specified schedule. Check their official website for details. *(53 words)*

Are short-term rentals allowed in Fernandina Beach?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Fernandina Beach, but only within specific zoning districts. You need to verify that your property is located in a high-density or commercial zone where resort rentals are permitted. Short-term rentals are not allowed in all areas of the city, so check before listing. *(51 words)*

How much does an STR permit cost in Fernandina Beach?

**$400** is the annual fee for a Resort Rental Permit in Fernandina Beach. You need to renew this permit each year to legally operate your short-term rental. Ensure you factor this cost into your operating budget, along with other compliance requirements like safety inspections. Application details are available on the city website. *(51 words)*

Can renters host on Airbnb in Fernandina Beach?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb in Fernandina Beach. The city's regulations require that the property owner be the one to obtain the Resort Rental Permit and manage the short-term rental. Renters cannot sublease the property for short-term stays without the owner's explicit permission and compliance. *(53 words)*

Fernandina Beach

Moderate

FloridaUpdated Apr 4, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Fernandina Beach requires a Resort Rental Permit for all stays under 30 days, which is only allowed in specific high-density and commercial zones. Hosts must undergo an annual safety inspection, maintain a local contact available 24/7, and adhere to strict occupancy limits (max 10 guests).

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $400
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the City of Fernandina Beach, you must first verify your home is in an 'R-3' or commercial zone, as short-term rentals are banned in low-density 'R-1' and 'R-2' residential neighborhoods. You will need to get a state license and a county tax account before applying for the City's 'Resort Rental Permit,' which costs $400 for the first year. Every year, a city inspector will visit your property to check smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and exits. You are also required to post the permit number on your online listing and keep a noise and parking notice inside the home for your guests.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$400

Processing time14-30 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1ZONE RESTRICTION: Rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 and R-2 zones; verify your zoning map before buying or listing.
2CITY VS COUNTY: If your address is on Amelia Island but outside city limits, you follow Nassau County rules, not these Fernandina Beach rules.
3OCCUPANCY LIMIT: The absolute maximum occupancy is 10 people, regardless of the house size.
4PARKING: Off-street parking is mandatory; guests cannot park on the grass or block sidewalks.
5STATE LICENSE: You must have a Florida DBPR license for 'Vacation Rentals' before the city will approve your permit.
6LOCAL CONTACT: You must designate a local contact person who can respond to complaints within 1 hour.
7ADVERTISING: It is a violation to advertise a property for short-term rental without having a valid permit number displayed.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility10 rules

Fernandina Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Fernandina Beach, FL: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Fernandina Beach, FL: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements17 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Fernandina Beach: 1. ZONE RESTRICTION: Rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 and R-2 zones; verify your zoning map before buying or listing. 2. CITY VS COUNTY: If your address is on Amelia Island but outside city limits, you follow Nassau County rules, not these Fernandina Beach rules. 3. OCCUPANCY LIMIT: The absolute maximum occupancy is 10 people, regardless of the house size. 4. PARKING: Off-street parking is mandatory; guests cannot park on the grass or block sidewalks. 5. STATE LICENSE: You must have a Florida DBPR license for 'Vacation Rentals' before the city will approve your permit. 6. LOCAL CONTACT: You must designate a local contact person who can respond to complaints within 1 hour. 7. ADVERTISING: It is a violation to advertise a property for short-term rental without having a valid permit number displayed.

Application process12 rules

Fernandina Beach STR permit - Step 1: Zoning Verification. Confirm your property is located in R-3, MU, or C zoning districts. STRs are prohibited in R-1 and R-2. Time: 1 day.

Fees & costs1 rule

Fernandina Beach charges a registration fee of $400 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $100 (Inspection fee; permit renewal is $200 per year plus inspection.).

Taxes2 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Fernandina Beach charges a Nassau County Tourist Development Tax of 5%. This applies to stays under 180 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally remit the 5% Tourist Development Tax and 7% State Sales Tax in Nassau County.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

Fernandina Beach limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Fernandina Beach: CITY VS COUNTY: If your address is on Amelia Island but outside city limits, you follow Nassau County rules, not these Fernandina Beach rules.
Fernandina Beach: OCCUPANCY LIMIT: The absolute maximum occupancy is 10 people, regardless of the house size.

Safety requirements1 rule

Fernandina Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Hard-wired smoke detectors required in new construction, Exit signage for units with 3+ bedrooms, Mandatory annual safety inspection.

Penalties3 rules

Fernandina Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Fernandina Beach, FL: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Fernandina Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Fernandina Beach, FL: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Fernandina Beach

Moderate

FloridaUpdated Apr 4, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $400
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$400

Processing time14-30 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1ZONE RESTRICTION: Rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 and R-2 zones; verify your zoning map before buying or listing.
2CITY VS COUNTY: If your address is on Amelia Island but outside city limits, you follow Nassau County rules, not these Fernandina Beach rules.
3OCCUPANCY LIMIT: The absolute maximum occupancy is 10 people, regardless of the house size.
4PARKING: Off-street parking is mandatory; guests cannot park on the grass or block sidewalks.
5STATE LICENSE: You must have a Florida DBPR license for 'Vacation Rentals' before the city will approve your permit.
6LOCAL CONTACT: You must designate a local contact person who can respond to complaints within 1 hour.
7ADVERTISING: It is a violation to advertise a property for short-term rental without having a valid permit number displayed.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility10 rules

Fernandina Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Fernandina Beach, FL: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Fernandina Beach, FL: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements17 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Fernandina Beach: 1. ZONE RESTRICTION: Rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 and R-2 zones; verify your zoning map before buying or listing. 2. CITY VS COUNTY: If your address is on Amelia Island but outside city limits, you follow Nassau County rules, not these Fernandina Beach rules. 3. OCCUPANCY LIMIT: The absolute maximum occupancy is 10 people, regardless of the house size. 4. PARKING: Off-street parking is mandatory; guests cannot park on the grass or block sidewalks. 5. STATE LICENSE: You must have a Florida DBPR license for 'Vacation Rentals' before the city will approve your permit. 6. LOCAL CONTACT: You must designate a local contact person who can respond to complaints within 1 hour. 7. ADVERTISING: It is a violation to advertise a property for short-term rental without having a valid permit number displayed.

Application process12 rules

Fernandina Beach STR permit - Step 1: Zoning Verification. Confirm your property is located in R-3, MU, or C zoning districts. STRs are prohibited in R-1 and R-2. Time: 1 day.

Fees & costs1 rule

Fernandina Beach charges a registration fee of $400 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $100 (Inspection fee; permit renewal is $200 per year plus inspection.).

Taxes2 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Fernandina Beach charges a Nassau County Tourist Development Tax of 5%. This applies to stays under 180 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally remit the 5% Tourist Development Tax and 7% State Sales Tax in Nassau County.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

Fernandina Beach limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Fernandina Beach: CITY VS COUNTY: If your address is on Amelia Island but outside city limits, you follow Nassau County rules, not these Fernandina Beach rules.
Fernandina Beach: OCCUPANCY LIMIT: The absolute maximum occupancy is 10 people, regardless of the house size.

Safety requirements1 rule

Fernandina Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Hard-wired smoke detectors required in new construction, Exit signage for units with 3+ bedrooms, Mandatory annual safety inspection.

Penalties3 rules

Fernandina Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Fernandina Beach, FL: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Fernandina Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Fernandina Beach, FL: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Fernandina Beach?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Fernandina Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Fernandina Beach?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Fernandina Beach?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Fernandina Beach?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Fernandina Beach?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Fernandina Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Fernandina Beach?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Fernandina Beach?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Fernandina Beach?

Disclaimer