City Watch
Short-term rental rules in St. George Island, FL
How St. George Island 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.
- PRIMARY: Franklin County Code Ch. 10, Art. II, Sec. 10-31 (Ord. No. 2024-04, § 6, 5-21-24) requires ANNUAL REGISTRATION of all vacation rental homes, issuance of a license number, and an ANNUAL Franklin County Building Department safety inspection — an STR-specific registration/license PROGRAM (not a general BTR)
- STR-specific $100/yr fee vs $25/yr general business tax (Sec. 10-29); registration due on or before January 1 each year
- no STR-specific cap, quota, minimum-stay, or duration limit found (would be preempted post-2011 anyway under Fla. Stat. §509.032(7)); registration/inspection process is not preempted
- unincorporated barrier-island CDP; no municipal government — Franklin County governs
- beach/environmental ordinances (Leave No Trace overnight beach clearance, sea-turtle lighting) apply but are not STR-supply restrictions
Based on: Franklin County Code Ch.10 Art.II §10-31 Vacation Rental Business (Ord. 2024-04)
Summary of the rule
Franklin County Code Ch. 10 Art. II Sec. 10-31 'Vacation rental business' (Ord. No. 2024-04 § 6, 5-21-24): the county REQUIRES annual registration of all vacation rental homes on or before January 1 each year, an annual application with a $100 STR-specific business license fee, issuance of a license number and registration, and an ANNUAL Franklin County Building Department safety inspection of each unit. This is an STR-specific registration/license PROGRAM (distinct from the $25 general business tax in Sec. 10-29). No dedicated 'Vacation Rental' chapter exists (the program lives in Ch. 10 Licenses).
Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring St. George Island · system last checked Oct 23, 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.