Gulf County, Florida
Unincorporated Gulf, FL vacation rental requirements
Unincorporated Gulf County, including Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, and St. Joe Beach, requires a $100 yearly Short-Term Rental Business License (rentals under 30 days). The county building department inspects each unit every year, and the license isn’t issued until it passes. Coastal rentals need twice-weekly trash pickup and enough 96-gallon carts.
Checked against official sources November 5, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
The county code sets no occupancy, parking, or responsible-party rules. In late 2025 the county discussed adding a local emergency contact and vehicle decals (news); nothing was adopted as of November 2026.
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, 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
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.
Gulf County, Florida
Register for the tourist tax
Register with the Tax Collector through the GovOS portal and file every period.Source
Then your area
Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, St. Joe Beach, and WindMark need the county license. Pick your area.
Gulf County (unincorporated areas)
Get the state license and county tourist tax account
Every Florida vacation rental needs the DBPR license. Gulf County’s 5% tourist tax is filed with the Gulf County Tax Collector, and Airbnb and VRBO don’t collect it, so register and file every period yourself, platform bookings included.Source
Apply for the license and pass the inspection
Apply through the Tourist Development Council’s license portal and schedule the county building inspection. Properties in tax Zones 3 and 5 are exempt.Source
Set up trash service
In the Coastal Tourist Corridor, rentals of six months or less need two pickups a week year round and enough 96-gallon carts for the bedroom count. Fines are $100, $250, then $500.Source
Post the signs
Post the Leave No Trace sign in each unit and display the TDC’s magnet and rack cards.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 FAQ · Gulf County (GovOS portal)
- Code section · Gulf County (Municode)
- Short-term rental business license · Gulf County Tourist Development Council
- Sec. 34-3, trash in the Coastal Tourist Corridor · Gulf County (Municode)
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.