6 rules for unincorporated St. Johns County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Florida preempts local bans on vacation rentals under Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b), so St. Johns County cannot prohibit STRs but requires registration under LDC 2.02.04.B.19, renewed every 12 months, plus a DBPR license.
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.
St. Johns County LDC 2.02.04.B.19 requires every short-term rental to disclose and follow the county Noise Ordinance 2015-19, giving each guest a copy of the ordinance in the lease agreement.
St. Johns County LDC § 2.02.04.B.19(e)(5) (Ord. 2021-23)
Compliance with St. Johns County Noise Ordinance 2015-19 shall be disclosed within the lease agreement and a copy of the ordinance provided to all transient occupants.
Florida levies a 6% transient rental tax under Fla. Stat. 212.03(1)(a), and St. Johns County adds a 5% Tourist Development Tax on stays of six months or less, collected by the county Tax Collector.
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.
St. Johns County LDC 2.02.04.B.19 requires short-term rentals to provide at least one off-street parking space per three transient occupants, and total vehicles on site cannot exceed the registered spaces.
St. Johns County LDC § 2.02.04.B.19(e)(3) (Ord. 2021-23)
A minimum off-street parking of one (1) space per three (3) transient occupants shall be provided, which may include garage spaces, if the garage space is open and available for parking of motor vehicles. The total number of motor vehicles, boats, Recreational Vehicles, and trailers on the property shall not exceed the number of off-street parking spaces identified in the Application for Short ...
St. Johns County LDC 2.02.04.B.19 caps short-term rentals at two transient occupants per sleeping room or common area, with a maximum of ten per rental, excluding children twelve and under.
St. Johns County LDC § 2.02.04.B.19(e)(2) (Ord. 2021-23)
Occupancy shall be limited to two (2) transient occupants per Sleeping Room or Common Area, with a maximum limit of ten (10) transient occupants per Short Term Vacation Rental, excluding children twelve (12) years of age and under.
Neither Florida nor St. Johns County requires short-term rental hosts to carry insurance. Coverage is driven by mortgage lenders, HOA or CDD covenants, and booking platforms rather than any ordinance.
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