Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Flagler Beach, FL?

Yes. Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Flagler Beach through a city-issued Resort Dwelling/Condo Rental Permit. In addition, properties located within the city are situated within Flagler County and must also obtain a Flagler County Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) certificate, as county regulations apply to the unincorporated areas surrounding the city and interact with city operations (e.g., sanitation, tax receipts). Investors must secure both city and county authorizations, in addition to state licenses, and must operate within the city’s zoning and development standards. If you own a multi-family property within the city limits, confirm whether it falls under any exemptions or separate rules. County rules also carve out specific exemptions and zones (see County section below).

Key points:

• Zoning and Land Use: City permits are required for resort dwellings/condominiums; units must be in Tourist Commercial (TC), Commercial (GC), or Residential Nonconforming zoning to qualify. Multi-family buildings inside the city should be evaluated for special exceptions or county distinctions.
• Registration and Licensing: City Local Business Tax Receipt (LBTR) and Resort Dwelling/Condo Permit, plus county STVR certificate (separate from the city permit), plus state public lodging license and sales tax registration.
• Taxing and Fees: City LBTR, county application and renewal fees, and state sales tax (6.5%) plus local Tourist Development Tax (5%) apply to rentals.
• Operations: Minimum stay (7 days), occupancy limits, fire safety inspections, annual self-inspections, environmental protections (turtle nesting lighting), noise and parking rules, sanitation service upgrades to commercial rates, and advertisement requirements for LBTR and county certificate numbers.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Flagler Beach

Step-by-step pathway for investors:

1. Confirm zoning eligibility with the City Planning & Zoning Department (TC, GC, or Residential Nonconforming are acceptable). If the property is inside a multi-family building or near sensitive coastal zones, verify whether county exemptions or special rules apply.
2. Prepare and submit city applications:
   • Resort Dwelling/Condo Rental Permit Application (City)
   • Resort Dwelling/Condo Local Business Tax Receipt Application (City)
3. Schedule and complete the city fire safety inspection (required before LBTR issuance). The city schedules this inspection once the application is submitted for review.
4. Apply for the Flagler County Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate:
   • Initial application ($400), Renewal ($200), Transfer ($50), Modification ($50). Provide all required attachments (deed, interior/exterior sketch plans, tenant agreement, proof of ownership).
5. Obtain state licenses and registrations:
   • Florida DBPR public lodging license for vacation rentals
   • Florida sales tax certificate (for 6.5% state sales tax) and set up local Tourist Development Tax (5%) collection/remittance
6. Comply with operational standards:
   • Maintain a minimum 7-day stay
   • Enforce occupancy limits
   • Post the “Notice Requirements of Minimum Standards” inside the unit
   • Maintain an annual self-inspection certification
7. Renewals:
   • City: Rental Permit and LBTR renew annually (permit runs Oct 1–Sep 30). Renewal notices are mailed 60 days prior to expiration.
   • County: STVR certificate is annual and requires a renewal fee.
8. Ongoing compliance:
   • Monitor noise (60 dB 7am–10pm; 55 dB 10pm–7am), parking, dune/turtle protections, no signage, pet rules, and trash/recycling schedules.
   • Prepare for periodic city or county inspections; maintain required documentation.
   • Ensure any LBTR or county certificate numbers are included in advertisements per local ordinances.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Fees

City of Flagler Beach requirements:

• Completed Resort Dwelling/Condo Rental Permit Application
• Recorded warranty deed or property appraiser’s printout
• General liability insurance
• Fire Safety Inspection (scheduled by the city; fee applies)
• State DBPR license(s) for public lodging
• “Notice Requirements of Minimum Standards” form (signed)
• Resort Dwelling/Condo LBTR Application
• Sales tax certificate (Florida DOR)
• Application fees:
  • Application Review: $60
  • Fire Safety Inspection: $50
  • Tippy Cart Fee (one-time): $90.95
  • LBTR Fee: $55.12
  • Rental Permit: $50
  • Transfer: $5.51
• Annual renewal fees:
  • Rental Permit: $50
  • LBTR Fee: $55.12
• Permit period: October 1–September 30 annually

County of Flagler requirements:

• Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate Application
  • Fee schedule: Initial $400; Renewal $200; Transfer $50; Modification $50
• Required attachments:
  • Proof of ownership (recorded warranty deed)
  • Short-Term Vacation Rental Tenant Agreement (initial applicants)
  • Exterior sketch plan (to scale; structures, pools, fencing, parking, trash)
  • Interior sketch plan (to scale; layout, bedrooms, exits, detectors, extinguishers)
• Additional requirements for modifications (increases in square footage, sleeping areas/bedrooms, or occupancy):
  • Updated floor plan/site plan
  • Approved Florida Department of Health or DEP inspection/certification for the wastewater system if modified

State of Florida requirements:

• DBPR public lodging license for vacation rentals (website: myflorida.com/dbpr; phone: 850-487-1395)
• Sales tax registration (6.5% state sales tax; website: myflorida.com/dor)
• Tourist Development Tax (5%; county-administered)
• Business entity registration (if applicable; sunbiz.org)

Operational standards and certifications:

• City self-inspection form (annual; prior to renewal)
• Fire safety pre-inspection checklist compliance (exits, extinguishers, detectors, electrical, signage, emergency lighting, etc.)
• Advertisement compliance:
  • City LBTR number required in all advertisements (per County Ordinance 2018-10)
  • County STVR certificate number should be included per county requirements
• Environmental requirements:
  • Marine sea turtle lighting compliance (May 1–Oct 31) for coastal properties

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

City of Flagler Beach (municipal):

• Zoning eligibility: Tourist Commercial (TC), Commercial (GC), Residential Nonconforming
• Minimum stay: 7 days
• Occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 guests per sleeper sofa, not to exceed 4 additional people
• Permit period: Annual, Oct 1–Sep 30
• Fire safety: Pre-issuance inspection by the city; annual self-certification thereafter
• Noise: Maximum 60 dB from 7am–10pm; 55 dB from 10pm–7am
• Parking: Overnight parking prohibited in city-owned lots
• Sanitation: STRs charged at the current base commercial sanitation rate; condo units on master meters receive a yearly sanitation surcharge invoice
• Environmental and community standards:
  • Dune protection: Do not disturb dunes; use dune walkovers
  • Turtle nesting (May 1–Nov 1): Outdoor lighting should be amber; avoid disturbing nests
  • Littering prohibited; recycling required; follow posted trash collection schedule
  • No signage permitted
  • Pets: Leashed on the beach except between 10th Street North and 10th Street South (service dogs exempt)
• Advertisement: LBTR number required in all rental advertisements
• Updates: Owner must notify the city within 10 days of changes to local contact/representative information

Flagler County (unincorporated; county certificate required):

• Applicability: STRs in residential zoning districts must comply with Ordinance No. 2015-02; exemptions include:
  • Multi-family residential buildings (3+ units) or groups of such buildings
  • Unincorporated areas west of U.S. Highway 1
  • Owner-occupied permanent residents (on-premises)
• Certificate: Annual STVR certificate required for each dwelling unit; nontransferable between owners; transfer fee applies upon sale
• Occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 guests per sleeper sofa; maximum occupancy not to exceed 10 people (per summary)
• Parking: Minimum 1 off-street space per 3 occupants; garage spaces count if open and available; no street or yard parking
• Quiet hours: Observe 10:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m. (or as superseded by county noise regulations)
• Trash: 1 trash storage container per 4 transient occupants; owners must post and enforce trash/recycling schedules
• Environmental protections: Marine sea turtle lighting compliance May 1–Oct 31; specific guidance for coastal barrier island properties
• Inspection: County reserves the right to inspect premises prior to certificate issuance and at any time thereafter

State of Florida:

• DBPR public lodging license: Required for vacation rentals operating as public lodging establishments
• Sales tax: 6.5% state sales tax on transient rentals; registration and remittance through myflorida.com/dor
• Tourist Development Tax: 5% county-administered tax on transient rentals
• Noise and secondary impacts: While counties may regulate certain secondary impacts (parking, noise, trash), recent legislative efforts have aimed to limit local control and restrict differing regulation from private homes. Investors should monitor the evolving state preemption environment and confirm current law.

Local Authority Contacts and Resources

City of Flagler Beach

• Planning & Zoning Department: 800 S. Daytona Avenue, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
• Phone: 386-517-2000 Ext. 231
• Website: www.cityofflaglerbeach.com
• Key contacts:
  • Bonnie S. Bramer, Building & Zoning: 386-517-2000 Ext. 232; Email: bbramer@cityofflaglerbeach.com
  • Michele C. Ficocello, Local Business Tax Clerk: 386-517-2000 Ext. 231; Email: mficocello@cityofflaglerbeach.com

Flagler County Government

• Growth Management Department: 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 2, Bunnell, FL 32110
• Phone: 386-313-4009
• Website: www.flaglercounty.org

Florida State Agencies

• DBPR (public lodging licensing): Website: www.myflorida.com/dbpr; Phone: 850-487-1395
• Department of Revenue (sales tax): Website: myflorida.com/dor
• Division of Corporations (Sunbiz): Website: sunbiz.org; Phone: 850-245-6058
• Department of Agriculture (pre-packaged foods): Website: doacs.state.fl.us; Phone: 850-488-3022

Source Pages (Links)

• City of Flagler Beach Short-Term Rental Application and Checklist (PDF): www.cityofflaglerbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/4672/Short-Term-Rental-Application
• Flagler County Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate Application (PDF): www.flaglercounty.gov/files/assets/county/v/1/growth-management/documents/central-permitting-doc-center/short-term-vacation-rental-forms/shortterm-vacation-rental-3.pdf
• City of Flagler Beach “Short Term Rental Legislation” (Notify Me message): cityofflaglerbeach.com/List.aspx?MID=448
• FlaglerLive: Battle Over Vacation Rentals Resumes (Legislative overview): flaglerlive.com/battle-over-vacation-rentals-resumes/
• Summer.com: Vacation Rental Management in Flagler Beach, Florida (market overview): www.gosummer.com/vacation-rental-management/flagler-beach-florida

Practical Investor Notes

• Conflicting or overlapping rules: Because Flagler Beach properties sit within the broader county, you will comply with both city permits and the county’s certificate program. Zoning questions can materially affect eligibility; confirm zoning with the city before acquisition.
• Fees and renewals: Budget for initial ($400 county + city fees) and ongoing annual costs (county $200 renewal + city permit/LBTR renewals). Plan for sanitation service rate changes and potential condo master-meter surcharges.
• Inspection and certification timelines: City fire inspections must be scheduled after application submission; annual self-inspection is required for renewals. Factor these into your operational calendar.
• Marketing and compliance: Ensure LBTR and county certificate numbers appear in all advertisements. For coastal properties, plan guest communications around turtle lighting rules and dune protections.
• Legislative risk: State preemption efforts continue to target local control over occupancy and registration fees. Monitor legislative developments through the Florida League of Cities and county updates to ensure ongoing compliance and cost assumptions remain accurate.

This guide synthesizes the city’s Resort Dwelling/Condo framework and the county’s STVR program, alongside applicable state requirements, to provide a pragmatic compliance roadmap for Flagler Beach STR investors. If your property falls into a multi-family or coastal exemption category, consult both the city and county authorities to determine the precise licensing path.