Short-Term Rentals in Bay County, FL (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Bay County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Florida preempts local vacation-rental bans under Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b), so Bay County can't prohibit STRs or cap their length. Unincorporated Bay County (Ord. 23-18) and Panama City Beach instead require registration, a DBPR license, and safety inspections.
Bay County Short-Term Rental Rules
Some RestrictionsFla. Stat. §509.032(7)(b)
A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011.
Noise Rules
Vacation-rental guests follow the same noise rules as residents. In unincorporated Bay County that means the property-line decibel caps and 200-foot audibility limit of Sec. 17-72; owners and managers are jointly liable for a rental's noise.
Bay County STR Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsBay County Code Sec. 17-72(a) (Ord. No. 06-11)
It shall be unlawful for the owner of a parcel of real property or of a unit or units in a multi-unit building or buildings to cause, allow, permit or to continue a noise nuisance on said parcel or in said unit or units, or for any individual to cause a noise nuisance at any location.
Taxes & Fees
A Bay County vacation rental owes about 12%: Florida's 6% state sales tax, a 1% county surtax, and Bay County's 5% Tourist Development Tax. Unlike most counties, Airbnb and Vrbo do NOT remit the local 5% - hosts must.
Bay County STR Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsFla. Stat. §212.03(1)(a)
For the exercise of such taxable privilege, a tax is hereby levied in an amount equal to 6 percent of and on the total rental charged for such living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations by the person charging or collecting the rental.
Occupancy Limits
Bay County caps short-term vacation rental occupancy at one person per 150 square feet of gross floor area, based on the state fire marshal's formula. The limit must be posted inside the unit and can be set even lower during the certificate process.
Bay County STR Occupancy Cap Rules
Some RestrictionsBay County Code of Ordinances § 14-141(g)(1)c
The maximum occupancy of the unit defined as one person per 150 square feet of gross floor area as follows or lower agreed upon maximum occupancy established during the certificate process..."Maximum Occupancy is (X) by order of the State Fire Marshal. In accordance with Florida Administrative Code 69A-43.018 the maximum occupancy load permitted for one- and two-family dwellings licensed as pub...
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