Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Bay County, FL

Airbnb listings are allowed in Bay County, FL, but with restrictions. Applies to short-term/vacation rentals in unincorporated Bay County for single-, two-, three-, and four-family dwellings (high-rise condos and apartments are exempt). Rentals must maintain a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate, adhere to occupancy limits set by the Fire Inspector, and display specific interior/exterior signage including 24-hour contact info and the certificate number in all advertising. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Applies to short-term/vacation rentals in unincorporated Bay County for single-, two-, three-, and four-family dwellings (high-rise condos and apartments are exempt). Rentals must maintain a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate, adhere to occupancy limits set by the Fire Inspector, and display specific interior/exterior signage including 24-hour contact info and the certificate number in all advertising.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Bay County. 1) Submit a vacation rental inspection/registration packet via the Community Fire Prevention Access Portal, including a notarized affidavit, fire self-inspection checklist, and proof of TDT and DBPR registration. 2) Pay fees and schedule a fire inspection through the portal to obtain the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate. 3) Post all required signage and include the certificate number in all public advertising; registration must be renewed annually.

1) Submit a vacation rental inspection/registration packet via the Community Fire Prevention Access Portal, including a notarized affidavit, fire self-inspection checklist, and proof of TDT and DBPR registration. 2) Pay fees and schedule a fire inspection through the portal to obtain the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate. 3) Post all required signage and include the certificate number in all public advertising; registration must be renewed annually.

Vrbo is permitted in Bay County, FL under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Bay County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Bay County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.