Escambia County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Under FS 509.241, every public lodging establishment, including a vacation rental of an entire dwelling rented more than three times a year for under 30 days, must license with Florida DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Escambia County cannot require a separate operating permit or ban rentals because FS 509.032(7) preempts lodging regulation to the state. Most of the county (Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Warrington, Brent) is unincorporated and governed by the county Land Development Code, which imposes no special STR permit beyond the state license and county tax registration. The City of Pensacola applies its own zoning siting standards inside city limits.