Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.
The City of St. Augustine heavily regulates short-term rentals within city limits, requiring a specific municipal registration, a Florida state license (DBPR), and a county tax account. Registration involves a significant one-time fee and a mandatory fire safety inspection.
To host an Airbnb in the City of St. Augustine, you must first verify your property is in a permitted zone and then register with the City Planning Department. You cannot legally rent your home for less than 30 days without a city permit, which costs nearly $1,000 to start. You also need a Florida state license and must remit a 5% county tourist tax plus 6% state sales tax. Be aware that the city strictly limits guest counts to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 extra guests, with a hard cap of 12 people.
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 Details may be outdated or incomplete.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