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Is Airbnb legal in Destin, Florida?

Legal with city registration, fee scaled to square footage. Destin requires every short-term rental to register with the city each year before it can be offered. The fee is tiered by floor area: $500 up to 2,499 sq ft, $600 for 2,500 to 4,999, and $700 at 5,000 and above. STRs are permitted in the mixed-use and Holiday Isle residential districts, not everywhere in the city.

Showing the researched rules for Destin, FL below. Type your Destin address to jump to the verdict.

Legal with permit

Legal with city registration, fee scaled to square footage

Destin requires every short-term rental to register with the city each year before it can be offered. The fee is tiered by floor area: $500 up to 2,499 sq ft, $600 for 2,500 to 4,999, and $700 at 5,000 and above. STRs are permitted in the mixed-use and Holiday Isle residential districts, not everywhere in the city.

Permit and costs

Permit
Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate
Issued by
City of Destin
Cost
$500 / $600 / $700 per year by square footage
Renewal
Annual, due January 1

Key limits

Night cap
None
Zoning
Permitted in mixed-use and Holiday Isle districts, not citywide
Occupancy
2 adults per bedroom plus 4 additional, max 24 total
Responsible party
24/7 contact within 30 miles who can respond within one hour

Taxes

State sales tax
6%
County bed tax
Set by Okaloosa County, check the current rate

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Confirm the district
    Verify the address sits in a district the city lists as permitting short-term rentals.
  2. 2
    Get the state license and tax ID
    Obtain the Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling license and a Florida Department of Revenue Annual Resale Certificate.
  3. 3
    Register with the city
    File the city registration with the notarized affidavit, pay the tiered fee, and post the required 18x18 property sign within seven days.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
Condo buildings set their own rental policies that can be stricter than the city ordinance.
Condo tier is strict
The city actively identifies unregistered condo units through state data sharing, so register before listing.

Sources

One Fine BnB Destin rental compliance page · STR Profit Map Destin regulations

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

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Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.