Flagler County, Florida
Unincorporated Flagler, FL vacation rental requirements
Outside city limits and east of U.S. 1, single-family and two-family rentals need a county Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate: an inspection every year, scale drawings of the house and lot, and a cap of 10 guests in most neighborhoods.
Checked against official sources November 3, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
Your licensing checklist
In order: the state, the county, then the town.
State of Florida
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
Renew every year by your district’s date
Licenses renew on a set date for each DBPR district. Brevard and Volusia (District 4) renew April 1, with the half-year rate from October 1. Flagler and the rest of District 5 renew June 1, with the half-year rate from December 1. If you won’t rent until after the next renewal date, waiting to apply can save paying twice.Source
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
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
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
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
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.
Flagler County, Florida
Open a tourist tax account, even if you only use Airbnb or Vrbo
Flagler collects its own 5% tourist development tax, and the Tax Collector says the platforms do not send it in. Create an account on Tourist Express and file a return every month, by the 20th, including months with no rentals. You’ll need a Florida sales tax number from the Department of Revenue to set it up.Source
Get a county business tax receipt
The Tax Collector requires a local business tax receipt for every rental property, and county Ordinance 2018-10 requires the receipt number in every advertisement, including your Airbnb and Vrbo listings. Cities add their own receipt on top.Source
Know which program covers you
Palm Coast and Flagler Beach run their own rental programs. Outside city limits and east of U.S. 1 (the Hammock and the barrier island), the county’s short-term vacation rental certificate applies. Bunnell, Beverly Beach, and Marineland have no rental program in their codes.
Then your town
Pick your town for its full checklist.
Unincorporated Flagler County
Check that the county program applies
It covers single-family and two-family homes in unincorporated Flagler east of U.S. Highway 1. It doesn’t apply west of U.S. 1, to buildings with three or more units, or to a home the owner lives in full time. Outside the program you still need the state license, the county business tax receipt, and a tourist tax account.Source
Meet the life safety standards
Interconnected, hard-wired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms; a 2A:10B:C extinguisher mounted on each floor; battery emergency lighting at the main exit that lasts at least one hour; sleeping rooms that meet the Florida Building Code; and a pool, spa, or hot tub that meets the state pool safety act.Source
Draw the site and floor sketches
The application needs an exterior site sketch to scale (every structure, pool, fence, numbered off-street parking space, and trash area) and an interior sketch of each floor to scale (bedrooms and sleeping areas, exits, smoke and CO alarms, and extinguishers).Source
Apply to Growth Management
Send the application, fee, a sample lease, proof of ownership (recorded deed), both sketches, your county business tax receipt, a notarized affidavit, and the copies of your required postings. On septic, include the Health Department septic permit and its application. The county inspects before it issues the certificate.Source
Name one responsible party
One person at a time, 18 or older, reachable 24 hours a day, able to reach the house within two hours when called, and checking on it at least once a week. You can be your own responsible party.Source
Put the required terms in your lease
Maximum occupancy, the names and ages of all guests, license tag numbers for every vehicle (no more than your off-street spaces), and a statement that guests must leave when an evacuation order is posted. Keep each lease for one year.Source
Renew every year
Apply between August 1 and October 1 and pass the inspection by December 31. If you add space, bedrooms, or guests, apply for a modification and wait for the inspection before using the new capacity.Source
County certificate fees
$400 for the first certificate and $200 a year to renew, per unit, plus the county business tax receipt.
| Initial certificate | $400 |
|---|---|
| Annual renewal | $200 |
| Transfer to a new ownerA transfer needs a new inspection. | $50 |
| Modification (more space, bedrooms, or guests) | $50 |
Inspection checklist
What the inspector looks for, from Unincorporated Flagler County’s published checklist.
- Smoke and CO alarmsInterconnected and hard-wired, per Florida Building Code R314 and R315.Source
- Fire extinguishersA 2A:10B:C extinguisher on the wall of each floor, in a common area or a marked enclosed space, maintained per NFPA 10.Source
- Emergency lightingBattery-powered, turns on automatically, lights the main exit for at least one hour.Source
- Sleeping roomsMeet the Florida Building Code for one- and two-family homes, including an escape window.Source
- Pool, spa, or hot tubMeets the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (Florida Statutes chapter 515).Source
- Posted page by the main door or on the fridgeResponsible party name, address, and phone; maximum occupancy; quiet hours 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.; maximum vehicles with a parking sketch; trash and recycling days; sea turtle lighting rules on the barrier island; and the nearest hospital.Source
- Evacuation maps on upper floorsHomes with three or more floors: a map at least 8½ by 11 inches next to each bedroom door on the third floor and up.Source
- Trash cansOne 35-gallon or larger can with a locking lid for every four guests. Out on pickup day, back in by sunrise the next day.Source
House rules for guests
Sources
- Vacation rental and timeshare project licensing guide · Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants
- Rule 12A-1.061, sales tax on transient rentals (registration in part (9)) · Florida Department of Revenue (Florida Administrative Code)
- Rule 69A-43.018, fire safety for one- and two-family homes licensed as public lodging · State Fire Marshal (Florida Administrative Code)
- Certificate of Balcony Inspection (DBPR HR 7020) · Florida DBPR
- Tourist development tax · Flagler County Tax Collector
- Land Development Code § 3.06.14, short-term vacation rentals · Flagler County (Municode)
- Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate application and affidavit · Flagler County Growth Management
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.