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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Florida
  6. ·
  7. Seaside

Seaside

Permissive
Florida · Walton County (Seaside)Updated Apr 17, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 5, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Seaside are governed by the Walton County Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance, requiring state licensing, county certification, and local responsible party designation.

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 for less than 30 days, you must obtain a state vacation rental license and a Walton County STVR certificate. You are also required to post a physical sign outside the home with your contact info and permit number, and you must collect a 12% total tax from guests manually, as platforms like Airbnb do not collect the local portion.

At a glance

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

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Walton County is not contracted with Airbnb/VRBO; you must manually collect and remit the 5% TDT.
  2. 2Exterior signage (12x18 inch) must be posted at the entrance with your certificate number.
  3. 3A local responsible party must be available 24/7 and capable of arriving within 1 hour.
  4. 4Occupancy is strictly limited to 1 person per 150 square feet of heated/cooled area.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility3 rules
  • Seaside allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Condo, Townhome.
  • Seaside allows STRs in the following zones: Residential Preservation, Single-Family, Multi-Family.
  • Seaside does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Requirements9 rules
  • Seaside does not require liability insurance for STR hosts, but it is strongly recommended.
  • Seaside STR warning: Occupancy is strictly limited to 1 person per 150 square feet of heated/cooled area.
  • Walton County requires STR registration. Apply at: https://www.mywaltonfl.gov/797/Short-Term-Vacation-Rental-Program
Application process6 rules
  • How to set up an STR in Seaside: To rent your property for less than 30 days, you must obtain a state vacation rental license and a Walton County STVR certificate. You are also required to post a physical sign outside the home with your contact info and permit number, and you must collect a 12% total tax from guests manually, as platforms like Airbnb do not collect the local portion.
Fees & costs2 rules
  • Walton County charges a registration fee of $300 (annual).
  • Florida charges a registration fee of $170 (annual).
Taxes2 rules
  • Florida charges a state-level Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.06%.
  • Walton County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.01%.
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • Walton County limits STRs to 365 nights per year.
  • Walton County limits STRs to a maximum of 32 guests.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Seaside 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 to 6:00 AM).
Penalties1 rule
  • Seaside enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First violation: $500 per day. Subsequent violations: $500 per day.
Exemptions1 rule
  • Seaside exempts the following from STR regulations: bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels, long-term stays (30+ days), owner-occupied properties, Homesteaded properties occupied by the owner, Properties rented < 3 times per year.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Seaside

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Register with Florida Department of Revenue

Obtain a Sales and Use Tax Certificate and a local Discretionary Sales Surtax registration.

1 week$5
Documents needed
  • Business info
  • SSN or EIN
Official resource
Step 2

Obtain Florida DBPR License

Apply for a Vacation Rental Dwelling or Condo license through the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.

2-4 weeks$170
Documents needed
  • Floor plan
  • Completed application
Official resource
Step 3

Register for Walton County Tourist Development Tax

Register with the Walton County Clerk of Courts to pay the 5% local bed tax.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Florida Sales Tax ID
Official resource
Step 4

Apply for County STVR Certificate

Submit the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate application through the Walton County GovOS portal.

2 weeks$300
Documents needed
  • Notarized Affidavit of Compliance
  • External parking sketch
  • Internal floor plan with safety equipment
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 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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