Guides › City of Destin short-term rental registration: fees, deadlines and the sign rule
City of Destin short-term rental registration: fees, deadlines and the sign rule
Last checked Oct 26, 2026 from official sources. Not tax advice.
Destin requires every short-term rental to register with the city each year, on top of the Okaloosa County tourist tax and the state license.
Rather not track this yourself? See in two minutes what your rental owes and whether your platform already pays it. Free, private, no sign-up.
Check my countyReserve a founding place| Fee | Based on total square footage (from the Okaloosa Property Appraiser): up to 2,499 sq ft $500; 2,500 to 4,999 sq ft $600; 5,000 sq ft and up $700. |
|---|---|
| When | Every year. Registration opens January 1. Late fee of $100 after March 31, and $500 after June 1. |
| Transfers | Not transferable: a new owner or new management company registers again. |
| Sign | 18 x 18 inches, posted within 7 days of registering, legible from the street but not in the right-of-way, not in a window or on a tree. It shows the management company and phone, an emergency contact, the occupancy limit and parking spaces. City code preempts conflicting HOA sign rules. |
| Occupancy (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) | 2 adults per bedroom plus 4 per property, capped at 24 people. Example from the city: a 3-bedroom house allows 10. |
| Local contact | A responsible party must be able to reach the property within one hour. |
| Zoning | STRs are generally allowed in listed districts (for example BRMU, CBR, GRMU, HIMU, the Holiday Isle residential districts); check the city’s zoning map. |
Destin’s full stack
- City registration (this page).
- Okaloosa County 6% tourist tax, monthly by the 20th. Airbnb and Vrbo don’t file it.
- Florida state sales tax and surtax (platforms collect it on their bookings; you file it on direct bookings).
- State DBPR license.
Questions owners ask
How much does Destin STR registration cost?
$500 up to 2,499 sq ft, $600 for 2,500 to 4,999 sq ft and $700 for 5,000 sq ft or more, per the City of Destin FAQ.
What are the Destin late registration fees?
$100 if registered after March 31 and $500 if registered after June 1.
Can my HOA stop me from posting the Destin STR sign?
The city says its sign rules preempt HOA restrictions to the extent they conflict with the City Code.
Sources
- City of Destin, Short-Term Rental FAQ (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- City of Destin, STR registration resources (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Okaloosa Clerk, TDT FAQ (checked Oct 26, 2026)
Related
- How to file Okaloosa County tourist development tax (Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island)
- Every license a 30A, Panama City Beach or Destin rental needs (and what each costs)
- Florida DBPR vacation rental license
- Destin
- Okaloosa County, FL (Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island)
How it works
- Free checkTell us the address. We list every lodging tax, permit and deadline, and which ones Airbnb or Vrbo already pay.
- Authorize onceSign one payment authorization for your own bank account and the county’s agent form. How it stays secure.
- We file and payEvery return, including $0 months, filed and paid from your account to the county, with each confirmation in your file.
Find out in two minutes what your rental owes.
A free, private check of your county’s lodging tax, whether Airbnb or Vrbo already pays it, and which permits apply. Founding prices from $19 per property per month; we file and pay from your own account, so your money never touches ours.
Check my county