Flagler County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Flagler County, FL, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Certificate required
- Before renting any STR unit
- Geographic limit
- Unincorporated county east of U.S. Highway 1 only
- Excludes
- Multi-family buildings with 3+ units
- Renewal window
- August 1 to October 1 each year
- Adopted
- Section 3.06.14, effective February 19, 2015
Summary
Renting a single-family or two-family home short term in unincorporated Flagler County east of U.S. Highway 1 requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate from the county, on top of a county business tax receipt, a Florida Department of Revenue tax registration and a state DBPR transient lodging license. The rule is the county's own Land Development Code standard, not Palm Coast's or Flagler Beach's.
No person shall rent or lease all or any portion of a dwelling unit as a short-term vacation rental as defined in section 3.08.02 without initially and then on a continuing basis:1.Obtaining a short-term vacation rental certificate from Flagler County pursuant to this section;2.Obtaining a business tax receipt from Flagler County pursuant to chapter 19 of the Code of Ordinances; ... D.Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate. To verify compliance with these short-term vacation rental standards, any property owner who wishes to use his or her dwelling unit as a short-term vacation rental must first apply for and receive a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate from Flagler County, and renew the certificate annually for as long as the unit is used as a short-term vacation rental.
Full Breakdown
14 of the Flagler County Land Development Code, adopted February 19, 2015, applies to short-term vacation rental as a commercial business for single-family and two-family dwellings in unincorporated Flagler County. S. Highway 1, and exempts owner-occupied full-time residences. Before renting, an owner must, on an initial and continuing basis: obtain a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate from Flagler County; obtain a business tax receipt under Chapter 19 of the county code; register with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect and remit tourist development, sales surtax and transient rental taxes; hold a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation transient public lodging license; and file an affidavit showing ongoing compliance with the section's life-safety and operating standards.
The certificate requires a separate application per dwelling unit, including a scaled exterior site sketch, an interior floor sketch showing bedrooms, exits, and smoke/CO detectors, copies of required postings, and a draft lease agreement, and it must be renewed every year: renewal applications open no sooner than August 1 and close no later than October 1, with all inspections passed by December 31. An inspection is mandatory before the initial certificate issues, and again whenever the certificate is transferred to a new owner.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance is handled as progressive enforcement under Section 3.06.14(K): a first-time violation draws a warning with a correction period, and failure to correct within that period results in a citation. The county can prosecute under Part I of Florida Statutes Chapter 162 through a special magistrate, or issue civil citations under Part II with fines for first, second, third and further repeat violations set by resolution of the board of county commissioners; each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and the county can also refer the matter to the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Department of Revenue, tax collector or property appraiser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this certificate requirement apply to my Palm Coast rental?
Do I still need a certificate if I only rent occasionally?
What has to happen before the county issues the certificate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Flagler County
How Flagler County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Flagler County to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.