Bay County, FL Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Inspecting agency
- Bay County Fire Services
- Correction window
- 30 calendar days after violation found
- Inspection scheduling
- By appointment with responsible party
- No-show fee
- Set by county resolution
- Failed-access threshold
- 3 failed attempts triggers notice
Summary
Bay County Fire Services can inspect any certified short-term vacation rental's interior at its discretion. Owners who fail three inspection attempts or are denied entry face escalating enforcement, and re-inspections after a violation carry a county fee.
Inspections. Interior inspections of short-term vacation rentals shall be performed in the discretion of Bay County Fire Services.(1)If an inspection documents violation, all violations must be corrected and re-inspected within 30 calendar days...(2)Follow up inspections or re-inspections shall be made by appointment with the short-term vacation rental responsible party, and shall be subject to a fee determined by resolution of the board of county commissioners...the owner shall be charged a "no show" fee in an amount to be determined by resolution of the board of county commissioners to cover the inspection expense incurred by the county.
Full Breakdown
118 to enforce state fire marshal rules, such as county, municipal or special-district fire chiefs and their designees. If an inspection finds a violation, the owner must correct it and get re-inspected within 30 calendar days, or face enforcement under § 14-141(h) until it is resolved. Follow-up inspections are scheduled by appointment with the short-term vacation rental responsible party and carry a fee set by resolution of the board of county commissioners; missing a scheduled appointment triggers a "no show" fee, also set by resolution, to cover the county's inspection costs.
If an inspector is denied admittance, or fails at least three attempts to complete an inspection, the inspector must send the owner written notice of the failed inspection at the address on file with the certificate. The inspection program ties directly to the certificate itself: applicants must affirm in their affidavit of compliance that they understand the county has the right to inspect the premises, and any pool on the property must separately show evidence of licensing and inspection before a certificate issues.
Violations & Fines
Uncorrected inspection violations, denied access, or repeated failed inspection attempts feed into the progressive enforcement program of § 14-141(h), which starts with compliance-focused correction and escalates to fees, fines and legal action for owners who don't cooperate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who inspects Bay County short-term rentals?
What happens if a Bay County STR fails an inspection?
Is there a fee if I miss my Bay County STR inspection appointment?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bay County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Bay County to another location·View the Florida rental inspections overview
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