St. Johns County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Per room
- 2 transient occupants
- Per rental cap
- 10 occupants maximum
- Children exempt
- Age 12 and under
- Governing law
- LDC 2.02.04.B.19(e)(2)
Summary
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.
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.
Full Breakdown
Florida bars local governments from regulating rental duration or frequency, but St. Johns County may cap occupancy as a health and safety standard. Its STR ordinance limits each rental to two transient occupants per sleeping room or common area, with a hard maximum of ten per unit, not counting children twelve or younger. Older rentals were phased down from 20 guests to 17, then 14, reaching the 10-guest cap by May 2024. Maximum occupancy must be stated in the lease and posted by the main entrance. Each rental also needs a fire extinguisher on every floor and must evacuate on a hurricane warning.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the ten-guest cap is a Land Development Code violation, correctable within seven days before civil penalties set by the Board. Repeated overcrowding at one rental lets the County pursue the owner directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can a St. Johns County rental hold?
Can the county limit occupancy if the state preempts STR rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Johns County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Johns County to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
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