Short-Term Rental Laws in Destin, FL (2026)
Short-term rentals (stays of six months or less) are legal in Destin but only in designated zoning districts, and every STR - including, as of the 2026 season, condominiums - must hold an annual City of Destin Short-Term Rental Registration costing $500-$700 per year based on square footage, plus a city business tax receipt, a Florida DBPR vacation rental license, and state/county tax accounts. The biggest constraints are the zoning-district eligibility rules (with Conditional Use or Change of Use approval required in some districts) and the overnight occupancy cap of 2 per bedroom plus 4, maxing at 24 people; guests also pay roughly 13% combined taxes, with the county's 6% bed tax remitted by the host, not by Airbnb/Vrbo. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Destin STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) |
| Permit fee | $500 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Minimum stay | 1 night |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~13% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | The city's Code Compliance Division (STR@cityofdestin.com, 850-842-4596) administers the program and warns that 'code compliance action will be taken if a STR is found in violation of any applicable regulation.' Enforcement runs through the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate/Board and civil citations under F.S. ch. 162, and registrations can be administratively denied, suspended, or revoked for violations of the article, any city ordinance, or state law. Operators must post an exterior sign (with 24/7 responsible-party contact and registration expiration) within 7 days of registration plus two interior notice signs; a designated responsible party must answer 24/7 and respond to emergencies within 1 hour. Overnight occupancy limits (2 per bedroom + 4, capped at 24) apply from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Parking, noise (Ch. 14 Art. II), and garbage rules are actively enforced; in 2025 the city moved to hire a third-party vendor for STR billing, collections, and compliance monitoring as condos entered the program. |
| Current rules effective | 2026-01-01 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Destin stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Destin, FL — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Destin occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax) (6%)· collection varies | $27.00 |
| Okaloosa County Discretionary Sales Surtax (1%)· collection varies | $4.50 |
| Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax (bed tax) (6%)· host remits | $27.00 |
| Total tax (13%) | $58.50 |
| Guest pays | $508.50 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Destin requires Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $500, renewed annual.
Tiered by gross square footage, identical for single-family/duplex/townhome and condo registrations per the city's 2026 guide: $500 (up to 2,499 sq ft), $600 (2,500-4,999 sq ft), $700 (5,000+ sq ft). Non-refundable application fee due at submission; paper applications may incur an extra administrative fee. Late renewal fees per city FAQ: $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1 (the codified ordinance text still recites a $50 late fee after March 1 - the FAQ/fee-resolution amounts appear to be current). Registrants also need a City of Destin Business Tax Receipt (separate cost).
Zoning & location rules
STRs must be located in an eligible district under Article 7 of Destin's Land Development Code. Eligible districts per the city's 2026 STR Registration Guide: Crystal Beach Resort (CBR), Crystal Beach Neighborhood (CBN; multi-family needs Conditional Use), Low Density Residential-Holiday Isle (LDR-HI), Bay Resort Mixed-use (BRMU), Calhoun Mixed-use (CMU), Calhoun Mixed-use-Village (CMU-V; needs Conditional Use), Commercial General (CG), Gulf Resort Mixed-use (GRMU), High Density Residential (HDR), Holiday Isle Mixed-use (HIMU), Medium Density Residential-Holiday Isle (MDR-HI), North Harbor Mixed-use (NHMU), ROI-Tourist Development (ROI-TD), South Harbor Mixed-use (SHMU; single-family needs Conditional Use), and Town Center Mixed-use (TCMU; multi-family needs Conditional Use). A Change of Use approval (with site plan and parking plan) may be required, and STRs must provide 1 parking space per bedroom (2 total spaces if the house was built before December 5, 2016).
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax)Airbnb (and generally Vrbo) collect and remit the state transient rental tax on platform bookings; hosts must register with the Florida Department of Revenue (Annual Resale Certificate required for city registration) and remit on direct bookings. | 6% | varies |
| Okaloosa County Discretionary Sales Surtax1% (per FL DOR DR-15DSS, includes a 0.5% component effective Jan 1, 2019 through Dec 31, 2028); administered with the state sales tax, so platforms that collect state tax collect this too; hosts remit on direct bookings. Combined state+surtax = 7%. | 1% | varies |
| Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax (bed tax)6% countywide (original district including Destin at 6% since Jan 1, 2023; Expansion District rose from 5% to 6% effective March 1, 2025). Locally administered - not collected by the Florida DOR and Okaloosa is not among the counties Airbnb remits for, so owners/operators must register at okaloosatouristtax.munirevs.com and file monthly returns (due by the 20th; 10% per 30 days penalty up to 50%, $50 minimum). | 6% | host |
Enforcement & penalties
The city's Code Compliance Division (STR@cityofdestin.com, 850-842-4596) administers the program and warns that 'code compliance action will be taken if a STR is found in violation of any applicable regulation.' Enforcement runs through the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate/Board and civil citations under F.S. ch. 162, and registrations can be administratively denied, suspended, or revoked for violations of the article, any city ordinance, or state law. Operators must post an exterior sign (with 24/7 responsible-party contact and registration expiration) within 7 days of registration plus two interior notice signs; a designated responsible party must answer 24/7 and respond to emergencies within 1 hour. Overnight occupancy limits (2 per bedroom + 4, capped at 24) apply from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Parking, noise (Ch. 14 Art. II), and garbage rules are actively enforced; in 2025 the city moved to hire a third-party vendor for STR billing, collections, and compliance monitoring as condos entered the program.
Violation of the STR article is punishable as a misdemeanor by a fine of up to $500 per violation and up to 60 days imprisonment (per F.S. 162.22), in addition to civil citations, code-enforcement proceedings, and denial/suspension/revocation of the registration. Late renewal triggers added fees of $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1. Giving false or misleading information on a registration application is itself unlawful.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Destin
January 8, 2026material
Condominium STRs folded into city registration program (2026 season)
The city's 2026 STR Registration Guide (updated 1/8/2026) states that any property 'whether single-family, duplex, townhome, or condominium' rented under 180 days must register, and adds a dedicated 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application with the same $500-$700 fee tiers (condos are exempt from uploading the site plan/parking affidavit documents). This reverses the long-standing exemption for condos that older city FAQ material still reflects.
Official source →March 1, 2025
Okaloosa County bed tax reaches 6% countywide
The Tourist Development Tax rate for the county's Expansion District rose from 5% to 6% effective March 1, 2025, making the TDT 6% in both the original district (which includes Destin and has been 6% since Jan 1, 2023) and the Expansion District, per FL DOR DR-15TDT and county sources.
Official source →August 21, 2024material
Council votes to bring condos and timeshares into the STR fee/registration program
After a July 2024 4-3 council vote (Mayor Bobby Wagner breaking the tie) to subject short-term condominium rentals and timeshares to the same registration fee rates as other STRs, the city advanced ordinance work through 2024-2025 - citing roughly $2.5M/year in new revenue for public-safety costs - including an August 2025 fee-schedule amendment setting a $500 tier for the smallest condos and an RFP for a third-party billing/compliance vendor.
Official source →January 1, 2023material
Okaloosa TDT in Destin's district rises to 6%
The Tourist Development Tax for the original Okaloosa County district, which covers Destin, increased to 6% effective January 1, 2023 (the Expansion District was set at 5% on the same date).
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Destin?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Destin, FL, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Destin?
Yes. Destin requires a Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $500 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Destin short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) costs $500 (annual renewal). Tiered by gross square footage, identical for single-family/duplex/townhome and condo registrations per the city's 2026 guide: $500 (up to 2,499 sq ft), $600 (2,500-4,999 sq ft), $700 (5,000+ sq ft). Non-refundable application fee due at submission; paper applications may incur an extra administrative fee. Late renewal fees per city FAQ: $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1 (the codified ordinance text still recites a $50 late fee after March 1 - the FAQ/fee-resolution amounts appear to be current). Registrants also need a City of Destin Business Tax Receipt (separate cost).
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Destin?
Yes — Destin does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Destin?
Hosts in Destin are subject to: Florida Transient Rental Tax (state sales tax) (6%), Okaloosa County Discretionary Sales Surtax (1%), Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax (bed tax) (6%) — roughly 13% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Destin?
Violation of the STR article is punishable as a misdemeanor by a fine of up to $500 per violation and up to 60 days imprisonment (per F.S. 162.22), in addition to civil citations, code-enforcement proceedings, and denial/suspension/revocation of the registration. Late renewal triggers added fees of $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1. Giving false or misleading information on a registration application is itself unlawful. The city's Code Compliance Division (STR@cityofdestin.com, 850-842-4596) administers the program and warns that 'code compliance action will be taken if a STR is found in violation of any applicable regulation.' Enforcement runs through the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate/Board and civil citations under F.S. ch. 162, and registrations can be administratively denied, suspended, or revoked for violations of the article, any city ordinance, or state law. Operators must post an exterior sign (with 24/7 responsible-party contact and registration expiration) within 7 days of registration plus two interior notice signs; a designated responsible party must answer 24/7 and respond to emergencies within 1 hour. Overnight occupancy limits (2 per bedroom + 4, capped at 24) apply from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Parking, noise (Ch. 14 Art. II), and garbage rules are actively enforced; in 2025 the city moved to hire a third-party vendor for STR billing, collections, and compliance monitoring as condos entered the program.
Destin's STR rules changed 3 times recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- New Orleans, LARestricted
- Atlanta, GAPermit required
- Kissimmee, FLRestricted
- Nashville, TNPermit required
- Gatlinburg, TNPermit required
Sources
- City of Destin - 2026 STR Registration Guide (updated 1/8/2026)retrieved July 9, 2026
- City of Destin Code of Ordinances, Ch. 13 Article VI - Registration of Short-Term Rentalsretrieved July 9, 2026
- City of Destin - Short Term Rentals FAQretrieved July 9, 2026
- City of Destin - Register a Short Term Rentalretrieved July 9, 2026
- Florida Dept. of Revenue - DR-15TDT Local Option Transient Rental Tax Ratesretrieved July 9, 2026
- Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax FAQ (MuniRevs portal)retrieved July 9, 2026
- Airbnb - Occupancy tax collection and remittance in Floridaretrieved July 9, 2026
- WEAR TV - Destin plans to enact fees on short-term condo rentals to cover rising public safety costs (Aug 21, 2024)retrieved July 9, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Destin and a qualified professional before operating.