Are there any additional requirements?

Yes, ensure that you adhere to the following Walton County Ordinance 2023-03 Section 5.07.03, as well as all applicable State and Municiple requirements: 

A.    Minimum life/safety requirements for single family detached and two family attached units:

1.    Swimming pool, spa and hot tub safety. A swimming pool, spa or hot tub shall comply with the current standards of the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, Chapter 515, Florida Statutes. 

2.    Sleeping rooms. All sleeping rooms shall meet the single-family and two-family dwelling minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code. 

3.    Automatic smoke detection requirements. All short term vacation rental units are required to meet the requirements of Chapter 69A-43, F.A.C

4.    Fire extinguisher. A portable, multi-purpose dry chemical 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher shall be installed, inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 on each floor/level of the unit. The extinguisher(s) shall be installed on the wall in an open common area or in an enclosed space with appropriate markings visibly showing the location. 

5.    Battery powered emergency lighting of primary exit. Battery powered emergency lighting which provides illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting shall be provided for a period of not less than one (1) hour to illuminate the primary exit. For purposes of this requirement, short-term vacation rentals with Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificates issued prior to the enactment of the ordinance providing for the codification of this standard shall have a period of six (6) months to demonstrate compliance with the emergency lighting standard either through affidavit or inspection.

B.    On-Site Parking Standard for All Single Family Attached and Detached New Construction and Existing Construction. For new construction and new conversions of single family attached and detached units, based on the maximum short-term transient occupancy permitted or other self-imposed limit through the Certificate process, minimum off-street parking shall be provided as one (1) space per six (6) transient occupants. This is computed using 150 square feet gross floor area per person (one space per 900 square feet of gross floor area). This minimum parking standard shall not apply to any adopted Neighborhood Plan, Development Order, or area controlled by an active Homeowner’s Association (HOA) or similar owners’ association having other controlling mandatory parking requirements. In such cases, the Development Order, Neighborhood Plan, or HOA requirements shall govern. 

1.    Garage spaces shall only count if the space is open and available, and the transient occupants are given vehicular access to the garage. Failure to keep garage areas usable for vehicular parking if counted towards meeting the requirement shall result in a Code violation. 

2.    On-street parking shall not be permitted within public rights of ways and may be limited on private rights of ways per the maintaining entity. 

3.    On-site parking shall not be permitted in areas not otherwise designated for on-site parking spaces.

4.    Golf carts, RVs, trailers etc. may not occupy any designated on-site parking spot with reliance on on-street parking for other vehicles. All spaces designated towards achieving the required on-site minimum must be available to registered motor vehicles only unless fewer registered motor vehicles are on site in exchange for golf carts, RVs, trailers etc. being parked on site.

5.    Existing short term vacation rentals at the time of this ordinance shall either limit occupancy based on available parking (6 occupants per parking space), increase parking onsite through the applicable permitting process, or limit the number of vehicles that are on site at any given time through guest communication. In all cases, the maximum occupancy is limited to 1 person per 150 square feet.  

C.    On-Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Limitations: For structures utilizing on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS), the maximum number of occupants allowed shall be restricted in accordance with any OSTDS permit and the assumed occupancy/conditions the permit was issued under by the Walton County Health Department.

D.    Maximum occupancy. The maximum occupancy load permitted for single family attached and single family detached short term vacation rental units shall be computed at 150 square feet gross floor area per person OR lesser as agreed upon during the certificate process. 

E.    Solid waste handling and containment. Based on the maximum transient occupancy permitted, thirty-five (35) gallons or greater of fully enclosed container capacity shall be provided per four (4) transient occupants or fraction thereof. Appropriate screening and storage requirements for trash storage containers shall apply per any development approval or local neighborhood standard, whichever is more restrictive, and be incorporated into the Certificate. For purposes of this section, containers must have a lid that securely fastens to the container to prevent spills and animal access, with the container to be placed at curbside no earlier than 4:00  PM on the day before solid waste pickup and to be removed from curbside no later than sunset on the day of solid waste pick up unless otherwise controlled by an active Homeowner’s Association (HOA) or similar owners’ association having other controlling mandatory trash container and pick up requirements. Permanent structures for screening and storage of trash storage containers shall not be permitted within any designated scenic corridor overlay district. Private concierge service is highly encouraged, specifically on Saturday or high-volume change over days.

F.    Minimum short-term vacation rental/lease agreement wording. The short-term vacation rental/lease agreement shall contain the minimum information as provided for in Subsection 1.13.16 D.

G.    Minimum short-term vacation rental information required postings. The short-term vacation rental shall be provided with material to be posted within the rental unit as required by the County as prescribed in Subsection 1.13.16 D. 

H.    Minimum short-term vacation rental lessee information. The short-term vacation rental lessee shall be provided with a copy of the information required in Subsection 1.13.16 D.

I.    Responsible Local Party. Designation of a short-term vacation rental responsible party capable of meeting the duties provided in subsection and capable of addressing issues locally within a short response time is required. 

J.    Advertising. Any advertising of the short-term vacation rental unit shall conform to information included in the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate and the property's approval, particularly as this pertains to maximum occupancy and parking. All advertising shall include the Short Term Vacation Rental Certificate Number as well as the TDT Registration Number.


Show All Answers

1. What is a short term vacation rental?
2. What buildings are exempted? 
3. How do I apply for a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate? 
4. Does my property be inspected prior to issuance of the certificate? 
5. Why do I need to have a local responsible party assigned to my rental(s)?
6. What are the specific duties and qualifications of the Short-Term Vacation Rental Responsible Party? 
7. What if I need to change my designated Short Term Vacation Rental Responsible Party? 
8. What does my short-term vacation renter lease/agreement have to say? 
9. Do I have to post anything at the short-term vacation rental, and where do I need to place it? ?
10. Can my short-term vacation rental sign be larger than 18 inches by 12 inches?
11. What is the occupancy limit for a rental house?
12. How many parking spaces are allowed per rental?
13. How do we obtain a TDT Registration Number?
14. As the property owner, I am available to address any issues do I still need a local responsible party?
15. What if my short-term vacation rental is three (3) or more stories high, is anything required?
16. How many trash cans are required per short-term vacation rental?
17. I just received a warning notification letter regarding Walton County Short-Term Vacation Rental Certification Program non-compliance. How much time do I have to become compliant?
18. How do we know if we are in a Wildlife Protection Zone and if we need to give notice of sea turtle nesting and lighting usage?
19. Does Walton County require a copy of all rental agreements?
20. Do we need a FL Dept of Business and Professional Regulation license? If so, how do we obtain one?
21. What is considered "Gross Floor Area" or "Livable Space"?
22. Will I have to renew my certificate?
23. Are there any additional requirements?
24. My HOA covenants don't specifically state that short-term vacation rentals are not allowed, can I still have one?
25. What sanitary and safety requirements do I have to meet?
26. What type of smoke detectors do I need in my Short-Term Vacation Rental?
27. What other fire safety standards are required for my Short-Term Vacation Rental?
28. How long do I have to become compliant with the life safety requirements in the Ordinance?
29. Will I automatically receive a Walton County Certificate if I am registered with Florida Department of Revenue, Department of Business & Professional Regulation, and Walton County TDT registration?
30. For the required posted materials inside unit, can these be in a binder, in the home?
31. Where do I get the evacuation routes with flood zone information?
32. Where do I find the approved locking device list?
33. Is every home required to have the specialized smoke alarm for the hearing impaired?
34. Do I have to register my condominium as a short-term vacation rental with Walton County?
35. Can I rent out my carriage house as a vacation rental and I live in the main house?
36. I'm a property manager, can I apply for a Walton County Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate on behalf of the owner(s)?