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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Florida
  6. ·
  7. Santa Rosa Beach

Santa Rosa Beach

Permissive
Florida · Unincorporated Santa Rosa BeachUpdated Apr 14, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 2 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 5, 2026Sources 2

Summary

Plain-english overview

Santa Rosa Beach is an unincorporated area governed by Walton County, which requires an annual Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) certificate, safety inspections, and specific tax registrations.

Restriction level

Severity 0
Classification
Permissive
0
Severity

Why this classification

  • No STR-specific permit required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To rent your property short-term in Santa Rosa Beach, you must register with Walton County, obtain a Florida state lodging license, and pay both state and local tourist taxes. Owners must also follow strict occupancy rules (1 person per 150 sq ft), provide a local emergency contact, and meet fire safety standards like emergency lighting and signage.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limit365/year
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$300
Max fine$10,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Walton County is NOT contracted with Airbnb/VRBO to collect the 5% TDT; owners must remit it manually.
  2. 2Maximum occupancy is strictly 1 person per 150 square feet of gross floor area.
  3. 3Homesteaded properties are exempt from county registration but still require state licensing.
  4. 4Renewal dates vary by zip code; Santa Rosa Beach (32459) renewals are due by January 31st annually.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility4 rules
  • Santa Rosa Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Santa Rosa Beach allows STRs in the following zones: Residential zones where single-family is permitted.
  • Santa Rosa Beach allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhome.
Requirements9 rules
  • Santa Rosa Beach does not require STR registration.
  • Walton County requires STR registration. Apply at: https://www.mywaltonfl.gov/1359/Short-Term-Vacation-Rental-Registration
  • Florida requires STR registration. Apply at: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/intentions2.asp?chBoard=true&boardID=200&menuId=1&unId=0
  • Santa Rosa Beach requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 500,000.
Application process6 rules
  • How to set up an STR in Santa Rosa Beach: To rent your property short-term in Santa Rosa Beach, you must register with Walton County, obtain a Florida state lodging license, and pay both state and local tourist taxes. Owners must also follow strict occupancy rules (1 person per 150 sq ft), provide a local emergency contact, and meet fire safety standards like emergency lighting and signage.
Fees & costs2 rules
  • Walton County charges a registration fee of $300 (annual).
  • Florida charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).
Taxes2 rules
  • Florida charges a state-level Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.06%.
  • Walton County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.05%.
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • Walton County limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests.
  • Walton County limits STRs to 365 nights per year.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Santa Rosa Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted emergency contact, parking, trash plan, noise restrictions (Quiet hours 10:00 PM - 6:00 AM per County Code Art. 5).
Penalties1 rule
  • Santa Rosa Beach enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First violation: $500 per day for operating without registration. Subsequent violations: Potential liens and administrative fees. Maximum fine: $10000.
Exemptions1 rule
  • Santa Rosa Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels, long-term stays (30+ days), owner-occupied properties, Homesteaded properties are exempt from the Walton County STVR registration, Condominiums under FS 718.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Santa Rosa Beach

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Obtain Florida DBPR License

Register for a Vacation Rental - Dwelling or Condo license through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

2-4 weeks$150
Documents needed
  • Business information
  • Property address
Official resource
Step 2

Register for State and County Taxes

Register with the Florida Department of Revenue for sales tax and the Walton County Clerk of Court for the Tourist Development Tax (TDT).

1-2 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • DBPR License
  • Federal Tax ID or SSN
Official resource
Step 3

Prepare Property Safety Requirements

Install required fire extinguishers on every floor, emergency exit lighting, and the required interior/exterior signage.

1 week$200
Documents needed
  • Interior floor plan
  • Parking plan
Official resource
Step 4

Submit Walton County STVR Application

Apply for the Walton County Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate through the online portal.

2 weeks$300
Documents needed
  • DBPR License
  • Tax Registration Certificate
  • Proof of Insurance ($500k)
  • Parking/Floor Sketch
  • Affidavit of Compliance
Official resource

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

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