Short-Term Rentals in Okaloosa County, FL (2026)

4 rules for unincorporated Okaloosa County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Okaloosa County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Florida preempts local vacation-rental bans under Fla. Stat. 509.032(7), so Okaloosa County cannot prohibit STRs or cap their duration or frequency. Hosts need a state DBPR license; only grandfathered Okaloosa Island B-1 areas prohibit rentals.

Okaloosa County Short-Term Rental Rules

Some Restrictions

Fla. 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.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Okaloosa County has no rental-specific noise code; short-term-rental guests follow the same Land Development Code Chapter 9 limits as residents, including the 60/55 dBA caps and the overnight ban on disturbing sound.

Okaloosa County STR Noise Rules

Some Restrictions

Okaloosa County Code (LDC) § 9.02.03(2)(a)

No person shall make, or cause, suffer, allow, or permit to be made any unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise, or noises or such character, intensity or duration as to be detrimental to the health of any individual.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

A short-term rental in Okaloosa County owes 6% Florida state sales tax plus a 6% county Tourist Development Tax on stays of six months or less, roughly 12% total, remitted to the Clerk of Court.

Okaloosa County STR Taxes & Fees

Some Restrictions

Fla. 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.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Florida lets Okaloosa County regulate short-term-rental parking, and the county lists parking among the aspects it may control, but it has adopted no countywide STR parking mandate. Florida sets no statewide time limit.

Okaloosa County STR Parking Rules

Few Restrictions

Okaloosa County Growth Management, Regulation of Short-Term Rentals

Regulate parking, solid waste, evacuations, etc.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Okaloosa County ordinances

See every category we cover for Okaloosa County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Okaloosa County Ordinance Hub →