Destin, FL Short-Term Rental Checklist (Free, Printable)

📋 The Basics

Can I rent my place short-term here?: Yes, with a permit
Do I need a permit?: Yes. You must register with the city every year.
What taxes do I pay?: Total about 13%. Airbnb collects some; you pay Okaloosa County's 6% tourist tax yourself.

Your 3 steps to be legal

Get a Florida state rental license (DBPR) and sign up for Florida sales tax.
Sign up for Okaloosa County tourist tax.
Register with the City of Destin each year (opens Jan 1).

⚠️ Biggest risk: Late fees if you register after March 31.

Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.

This is the general rule for Destin. Does your address qualify?

The free info covers the city as a whole. Your property can still be different: zoning can change from one street to the next, and an HOA or condo ban can stop rentals even where the city allows them.

Your $49 Compliance Check looks at your exact property:

Whether your exact address and zone allow short-term rentals
A check of HOA / condo rental restrictions to look for
Which permits and tax accounts you personally need
What you're missing right now
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Permit / license / registration

State license (Florida DBPR): Florida DBPR vacation rental / transient public lodging license (homestead room-rental exemptions may apply).
Registration: Annual City of Destin short-term rental registration is required (opens January 1).

Zoning, where allowed & definitions

State preemption: Florida law (s. 509.032(7)(b), F.S.) bars local rules adopted after June 1, 2011 from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating rental duration/frequency; older local rules still apply.
Okaloosa County: Okaloosa County has its own short-term rental program for unincorporated areas; verify with the county.

Night limits, minimum stays & occupancy

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Fees, penalties & pending changes

Fees: 2025 city figures: $500 (up to 2,499 sq ft), $600 (2,500–4,999), $700 (5,000+); late fees $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1. Verify with the city for the current year.

Taxes & who collects them

Register / account for FL state sales tax (6%)
Register / account for Okaloosa County surtax (1%)
Register / account for Local tourist/transient taxes (6%)
What Airbnb collects: Airbnb collects state 6% + 1% surtax only. You must register with and remit the Okaloosa County 6% tourist development tax yourself.
Vrbo and direct bookings: check which taxes Vrbo collects in your area; for direct bookings you collect and remit all of them yourself.
Mandatory cleaning fees charged to guests are taxable as part of the rental (state, surtax and tourist tax). Only an optional, separately itemized fee the guest can decline is excluded (FL Admin. Code 12A-1.061).

Total rate: 13%. Okaloosa County tourist development tax is 6% in both the TDT District and Expansion District (FL DOR DR-15TDT); surtax 1%. Calculate.

HOA / condo check

Read your declaration, bylaws and rules for rental bans, minimum terms, caps and approval requirements.
Get any association sign-off or approval letter your city or association requires.
See our HOA & condo guide.

Insurance

Confirm your homeowner/condo policy covers short-term rental use, or add a short-term rental policy. Platform host protection is not a substitute for insurance.
Ask your association whether it requires specific liability coverage.

Deadlines

Renew city/county permits or registrations on their schedule (often annually): confirm the date with the office that issued it.
Florida sales and transient rental tax returns: due the 1st, late after the 20th of the month after the reporting period.
Property tax dates: see Florida deadlines.

Official sources

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Is my Destin rental legal? Checklist