City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Pensacola, FL
How Pensacola regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here are subject to registration, a lodging tax, or a small number of operating rules.
- Escambia County levies a 5% tourist development tax reaching single-family home rentals of six months or less (County Ord. Sec. 90-65)
- City Local Business Tax Receipt (Code Ch. 7-2) reaches rental operators
- No city STR-specific registration, permit or license program
- No STR zoning exclusion, cap or minimum stay in the city Land Development Code
Based on: City of Pensacola Code (codified through Ord. No. 04-26, adopted 1-15-2026, Supp. 5) — no STR-specific ordinance
Summary of the rule
The Tourist Development Tax (TDT) is a 5% tax on the total payment received for the rental or lease of living quarters and accommodations in a: ... Single-family home ... Any other sleeping accommodations that are rented for a period of six months or less
Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Pensacola · system last checked Nov 5, 2026
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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.