Current permit-cap status, minimum-stay requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and jurisdiction breakdown for short-term rentals in Destin. Every field is cited to a primary source below. Always verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before writing an offer.
The City of Destin requires annual STR registration under Code of Ordinances Chapter 13, Article VI, with STRs permitted in 13 of the city's 20+ zoning districts and an overall occupancy cap of 24 persons per property; unincorporated Okaloosa County parcels around Destin have no STR-specific ordinance.
Have a specific property in mind? Analyze it with a $99 report →Destin's STR framework is documented but permissive by Emerald Coast standards. Every single-family STR must register annually with the City by March 1 (renewal window January 1 - March 1; $50 late fee thereafter). Registration must include address, lot/block, and identification of a local responsible party within 30 miles of the property (Sec. 13-107 and 13-114); a sign identifying the management company and 24-hour contact number must be posted on-site. Overnight occupancy is capped at 2 persons per bedroom plus 4 additional persons, with a hard citywide ceiling of 24 persons regardless of bedroom count, enforced from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am. STRs are permitted in 13 of Destin's 20+ zoning districts - confirm the parcel's zoning designation before offer. Florida state sales tax (6%) plus Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax (5%) are collected on all rentals; platforms remit for most listings. Adjacent unincorporated Okaloosa County parcels (Miramar Beach, portions of Sandestin) have no STR-specific ordinance and follow county-wide land-use rules only.
Short-term rentals in Destin are classified as mixed as of 2026-08-16. The City of Destin requires annual STR registration under Code of Ordinances Chapter 13, Article VI, with STRs permitted in 13 of the city's 20+ zoning districts and an overall occupancy cap of 24 persons per property; unincorporated Okaloosa County parcels around Destin have no STR-specific ordinance.
No, Destin does not enforce a numeric permit cap based on primary sources reviewed. No numeric citywide cap in Chapter 13, Article VI. Practical constraint is the zoning-district limit (STRs allowed in 13 of the city's 20+ districts) plus the 24-person overnight occupancy ceiling.
The primary source does not specify a minimum stay for short-term rentals in Destin.
Destin does not require owner-occupancy for short-term rental operators as of 2026-08-16. Verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before offering, as owner-occupancy rules interact with zoning overlays.
Contact the operating jurisdiction directly using the primary-source links published on this page. Zoning, HOA restrictions, and pending regulatory changes are parcel-specific and can override the citywide profile above. DepreciMax's $99 property report separately sizes the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction for a specific address, once regulatory clearance is confirmed.
Once you've verified the regulatory profile of a listing you're considering, run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the actual Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction. The report analyzes the listing photos to classify finishes as 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural — producing a line-item estimate closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
Use the DepreciMax STR Regulations Database for the full top-50 market fleet — every market cited to a primary jurisdiction source, updated quarterly.
Not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental regulations change frequently and vary by parcel, zone, and HOA. The information on this page is a summary of publicly available primary sources as of 2026-08-16. Before acting — buying, listing, or operating a short-term rental in Destin — verify current rules with the operating jurisdiction and consult a local attorney and CPA.