What are the key requirements for Seaside hosts?

Walton County is not contracted with Airbnb/VRBO; you must manually collect and remit the 5% TDT.

What are the key requirements for Seaside hosts?

Exterior signage (12x18 inch) must be posted at the entrance with your certificate number.

What are the key requirements for Seaside hosts?

A local responsible party must be available 24/7 and capable of arriving within 1 hour.

What are the permit fees in Seaside?

Occupancy is strictly limited to 1 person per 150 square feet of heated/cooled area.

Short-Term Rental Laws in Seaside, FL

Gold Standard Verification

100%

Forensically verified with 3+ official sources

Verified: Feb 5, 2026

3 Official Sources

Summary

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

✅

Permissive

Score: 0 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

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

In Plain English

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

Permit Required

Night Limit

365/year

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$300

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Regulation Details

Eligibility(3)

•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.

Requirements(9)

•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 Process(6)

•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 & Costs(2)

•Walton County charges a registration fee of $300 (annual).
•Florida charges a registration fee of $170 (annual).

Taxes(2)

•Florida charges a state-level Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.06%.
•Walton County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.01%.

Limits & Restrictions(2)

•Walton County limits STRs to 365 nights per year.
•Walton County limits STRs to a maximum of 32 guests.

Safety Requirements(1)

•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).

Penalties(1)

•Seaside enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First violation: $500 per day. Subsequent violations: $500 per day.

Exemptions(1)

•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.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Unlock: 4-Step Application Guide

Get step-by-step application guides and access to all 51+ markets.

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched 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.

Other Florida Markets

Orlando

Florida

Prohibited

Short-term rentals in the City of Orlando are strictly regulated under 'Home-Sharing' rules, which require the property to be the host's primary residence. Hosts must be present on-site during the rental and are only permitted to rent out a portion of their home (e.g., a spare bedroom) rather than the entire unit.

Permit requiredPrimary residence

0.1% total tax

Fort Myers

Florida

Permissive

The City of Fort Myers does not currently have a specific municipal ordinance regulating or prohibiting short-term rentals. Hosts must instead focus on compliance with Florida State (DBPR) licensing and Lee County Tourist Development Tax requirements.

0.1% total tax

Hollywood

Florida

Moderate

The City of Hollywood, FL requires all vacation rental hosts to obtain a specific Vacation Rental License under Chapter 119 of the Municipal Code. This includes an initial $500 fee, annual inspections, and strict adherence to occupancy limits based on bedroom count.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

St. Pete Beach

Florida

Moderate

St. Pete Beach requires all vacation rentals to obtain a local Business Tax Receipt and maintain state/county licenses. While allowed city-wide, properties in most residential districts are strictly limited in how many times they can be rented per year (maximum of 3 times per 12-month period in certain zones).

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Seaside

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Create a free account

Regulation Details

Eligibility(3)

Requirements(9)

Application Process(6)

Fees & Costs(2)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(2)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(1)

Exemptions(1)

Create a free account

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Florida Markets

Orlando

Fort Myers

Hollywood

St. Pete Beach

Seaside

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Seaside?

3Are there night limits for renting in Seaside?

4What physical requirements exist for Seaside rentals?

Related Content

Other Florida Markets

Orlando

Fort Myers

Hollywood

St. Pete Beach