LicensedRental

Bay County, Florida

Panama City Beach, FL vacation rental requirements

Panama City Beach requires a Vacation Rental Certificate for every vacation rental, condos included: $250 to register with a fire inspection, $150 to renew each October 1. Occupancy is one guest per 150 square feet in houses and duplexes (200 in other units), with a 24/7 responsible party within an hour. During spring break “High Impact Periods,” no renters under 21.

Checked against official sources November 5, 2026

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City certificate
Required, condos included
Code Sec. 8-183 (Ordinance 1632, 2023; amended by Ordinance 1667, 2025).Source
Fees
$250 new, $150 renewal
Re-inspection $75; lock-out $100. A new owner must register again.Source
Maximum guests
1 per 150 sq ft (houses)
1 per 200 sq ft in other units, or 150 with fire inspector approval.Source
City taxes
1% business tax plus a BTR
On gross rent, in addition to the county tourist tax.Source

Fines are $500 for a first violation and $1,000 after that; a third violation in 12 months can revoke the certificate for up to a year.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of Florida

  1. Get the DBPR vacation rental license

    Apply online to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants as a Vacation Rental – Condominium or Vacation Rental – Dwelling, listing every unit address. Approval usually takes one to two business days and the license is emailed. There is no inspection before it’s issued, but DBPR can inspect afterward. Post the license (or a copy) in the unit.Source

    DBPR vacation rental licensing guide →

  2. Renew every year by your district’s date

    Licenses renew on a set date for each DBPR district. Brevard, Volusia, Indian River, St. Lucie, Orange, Osceola, Lake, and Seminole (District 4) renew April 1, with the half-year rate from October 1. Duval, Nassau, Clay, Flagler, St. Johns, Levy, Alachua, Marion, and the rest of District 5 renew June 1, with the half-year rate from December 1. Bay, Walton, Okaloosa, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Gulf, Franklin, and the rest of District 6 also renew June 1. Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward (District 2) renew December 1, with the half-year rate from June 1. Miami-Dade and Monroe (District 1) renew October 1, with the half-year rate from April 1. Collier, Lee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee, and the rest of District 7 renew December 1, with the half-year rate from June 1. Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, and the rest of District 3 renew February 1, with the half-year rate from August 1. If you won’t rent until after the next renewal date, waiting to apply can save paying twice.Source

  3. Register for Florida sales tax if you collect rent yourself

    Whoever receives the rent collects and pays the tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect Florida’s 6% tax and the county surtax on bookings made through them, so if every booking goes through them you don’t need your own sales tax account. If you take direct bookings, or a property manager collects rent for you, you or the manager register with the Department of Revenue and file. You stay responsible if a platform or manager doesn’t pay it.Source

    Florida Department of Revenue →

  4. Meet the state fire safety rule

    Florida Administrative Code 69A-43.018 asks rental homes for smoke alarms powered by the house wiring plus one in every bedroom, NFPA 10 extinguishers, one hour of battery emergency lighting to the main exit, a posted floor diagram showing the primary and secondary exits, and fire safety information for guests.Source

    Florida rental fire safety checklist (FireEscapePlan.com) →

  5. Balcony inspection for taller buildings

    Buildings three or more stories tall must file a Certificate of Balcony Inspection with DBPR every three years. Condo units are exempt when the balconies and stairs are common elements and you give DBPR proof.Source

  6. Keep up the state operating rules

    Keep the unit clean, safe, and free of pests; change sheets and pillowcases between guests or weekly; use cribs that meet federal safety standards; and sanitize dishes between guests or post DBPR’s exception notice.Source

  7. Then the county and town

    Most rules that affect day-to-day operation, like registration, inspections, occupancy, and parking, are set by the county and the town. Pick your town for its full checklist.

Bay County, Florida

  1. Register for the tourist tax

    Register with the Bay County Tax Collector and file through the GovOS portal (baycounty.munirevs.com) every period.Source

    Bay County TDT →

  2. Then your area

    Panama City Beach and unincorporated Bay require a vacation rental certificate; Panama City requires a business tax receipt. Pick your area.

City of Panama City Beach

  1. Get the state license and county tourist tax account

    Every Florida vacation rental needs the DBPR license. Bay County collects its own tourist tax, and Airbnb and VRBO don’t file it for you: register with the Bay County Tax Collector (which took over from the Clerk on October 1, 2026) and file every period, even for platform bookings. Platforms do collect the state sales tax.Source

  2. Register and pass the fire inspection

    Apply for the Vacation Rental Certificate ($250) and schedule the fire inspection. Get a city business tax receipt and register for the 1% city business tax.Source

    PCB short-term rentals →

  3. Name a responsible party

    Reachable 24/7, on site within one hour, and checking the unit weekly.Source

  4. Post the sign or decal and list the certificate number

    Houses need a sign visible from the street; condos need a decal with a 24/7 number and the certificate number. Put the certificate number in every listing.Source

  5. Follow High Impact Period rules

    During designated High Impact Periods, don’t rent to anyone under 21, verify guest IDs, and (for complexes over 25 units) provide security. Fines run up to $1,000.Source

  6. Renew every October 1

    Renewal is $150.Source

House rules for guests

Maximum guests
1 per 150 sq ft (houses), 1 per 200 sq ft (other units)
Source
High Impact Periods
No renters under 21
Source

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.