Short-Term Rentals in Walton County, FL (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Walton County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Anyone renting a residential unit as a short-term vacation rental in unincorporated Walton County must first obtain a short-term vacation rental certificate and renew it annually, under LDC § 1.13.16(A), with a separate certificate required for every dwelling unit.
STR Certificate Requirement, Walton County
Significant RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Code § 1.13.16(A)
A.Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate Required. To verify compliance with the short-term vacation rental standards contained within this Code, any property owner who wishes to rent a residential unit as a short-term vacation rental must first apply for and receive a short-term vacation rental certificate from Walton County and shall renew the certificate annually for as long as the unit is u...
Noise Rules
Every Walton County short-term vacation rental lease must notify guests of the county noise ordinance and its 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. quiet hours, warning of civil fines up to $500.00 and possible criminal charges, under LDC § 1.13.16(F)(2) and (G)(1)(e).
STR Noise Disclosure Rule, Walton County
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Code § 1.13.16(F)(2) and (G)(1)(e)
2.Notice regarding the county's noise ordinance (Article 5—Noise, Walton County Code of Ordinances) and potential civil infraction fines up to $500.00 and/or potential criminal offense violation between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. ... e.Notice regarding the county's noise ordinance (Article 5—Noise, Walton County Code of Ordinances) and potential civil infraction fines up to $500.00 a...
Taxes & Fees
Walton County levies a base two percent tourist development tax on any short-term rental of six months or less under County Code Section 19-26, on top of state sales tax. The host collects the tax at the time of payment and remits it monthly to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, who administers and audits collections.
Walton County Short-Term Rental Tourist Tax
Some RestrictionsWalton County Code § 19-26
(a)Levy. There is hereby levied and imposed a tourist development tax in the subcounty special district of the state described by ordinance, at the rate of two percent of each whole and major fraction of each dollar of the total rental charged every person who rents, leases or lets for consideration any living quarters or accommodations in any hotel, apartment hotel, motel, resort motel, apartm...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
New-construction and converted short-term vacation rentals in unincorporated Walton County must provide one off-street parking space for every six transient occupants under the Land Development Code, tied to the same 150-square-foot-per-person occupancy formula. Golf carts, RVs and trailers can't take up a required space, and on-street parking in the right-of-way never counts.
STR Parking Requirements in Walton County
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Code § 5.07.03(B)
B.On-Site Parking Standard for All Single-Family Attached and Detached New Construction and Existing Construction. For new construction and new conversions of single family attached and detached units, based on the maximum short-term transient occupancy permitted or other self-imposed limit through the certificate process, minimum off-street parking shall be provided as one space per six transi...
Occupancy Limits
A short-term vacation rental in unincorporated Walton County can't sleep more people than its floor area allows: the Land Development Code caps occupancy at 150 square feet of gross floor area per person, or a lower number the operator agrees to during the certificate process. Homes on a septic system face a second cap tied to their OSTDS permit's approved occupancy.
STR Occupancy Limits in Walton County
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Code § 5.07.03(C), (D)
C.On-Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Limitations: For structures utilizing on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS), the maximum number of occupants allowed shall be restricted in accordance with any OSTDS permit and the assumed occupancy/conditions the permit was issued under by the Walton County Health Department. ... D.Maximum occupancy. The maximum occupancy load perm...
Host Presence Rule
Walton County does not require an owner to live on site, but every short-term vacation rental must have a designated, locally available responsible party under LDC § 1.13.16(E), reachable 24/7 and able to reach the unit within one hour of a complaint.
STR Responsible Party Rule, Walton County
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Code § 1.13.16(E)
E.Short-Term Vacation Rental Responsible Party.1.The purpose of the responsible party is to respond to inspections as described in Section 1.13.16(D) above as well non-routine complaints and other more immediate problems related to the short-term vacation rental of the property.2.The property owner may serve in this capacity or shall otherwise designate a locally available short-term vacation r...
Repeat Violator Strikes
Walton County enforces short-term rental violations through a progressive citation system set out in Land Development Code Sec. 1.13.16(H). A first violation draws a warning with a correction period; failing to correct it converts to a civil citation, and the Board of County Commissioners sets escalating fine amounts by resolution for first, second, third, and further repeat violations at the same rental.
Walton County STR Repeat Violation Fines
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Code § 1.13.16(H)
H.Remedies/Enforcement. Violations of this section shall be subject to penalties as part of a progressive enforcement program. ... 1.Warnings. Warnings shall be issued for first-time violations and have a correction/compliance period associated with it. ... Non-compliance with a correction compliance period shall result in the issuance of a citation.2.The county may utilize F.S. ch. 162, pt. 1 ...
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