City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Destin, FL
How Destin regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- Registration required
- Occupancy cap
- Zoning-limited
Based on: Destin Code Ch. 13 Art. VI (STR Registration, Single-Family) §§13-103–13-117; Ord. 17-03-CC adopted 2-21-17 (am. 2019)
Summary of the rule
FL DBPR vacation-rental dwelling license required (Ch. 509)
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Active litigation / open question
context — Bert Harris Act / preemption exposure framed around whether Destin's occupancy-cap ordinance postdates the 2011 cutoff Source ↗
Reported as fact only, reflecting the code as currently in effect — not legal advice, and not a prediction of the outcome. Verify current status before relying on it.
Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Destin · system last checked Oct 24, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.