Panama City Beach, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Panama City Beach Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
The City of Panama City Beach has started enforcing some vacation rental restrictions across the city. Anyone who hosts short-term stays in Panama City Beach (less than 181 consecutive nights) must register their short-term rental with the city. On the city's website, property owners can start the registration process. There are specified city zones in Panama City Beach that can do short-term rentals. Use this map and layer for "Panama City Beach" and "Zoning" to check your zone, then click the "Legend" button on the map to see district names. In the following zoning districts, short-term rentals are permitted:- Commercial - High Intensity (CH)
- Commercial - Medium Intensity (CM)
- Commercial - Low Intensity (CL)
- Limited Multifamily (R-2)
- Unlimited Multifamily (R-3)
- Townhouse (RTH)
Business License Requirements
You can apply for a short-term rental license on the City's website. The fee for registering for a short-term rental is $50, which must be paid during the business registration calendar year.Building and Housing Standards
Panama City Beach has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Please consult the Panama City Beach Code of Ordinances and contact the Building Department for more information.Tourist and Local Taxes
Obtain a Florida Department of Revenue certificate of registration for purposes of collecting and remitting tourist development taxes, sales surtaxes, and transient rental taxes, Bay County Tax Collector for Tourist Development Tax; and Department of Business and Professional Regulation license as a transient public lodging establishment.Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the Panama City Beach website for more information.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating4.6
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Competition
2.4 -
Real Estate Cost
6.4 -
STR Regulations
4.0 -
Seasonality
2.8 -
Rental Rates
7.2
Panama City Beach, Florida Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 18,094
- STR License Required
- Yes
- Tourist Season
- February to May
- County
- Bay
- Airports
- Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
Want to learn more about Panama City Beach?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Panama City Beach rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Panama City Beach rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Panama City Beach.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Panama City Beach guests.
Interested in other Florida cities?
Check out the Florida short term rental regulations directory
What makes Panama City Beach a great place to invest?
- Panama City Beach is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, with crystal clear water and miles of soft, white sand. Visitors can enjoy a variety of water sports such as swimming, snorkeling, and parasailing, or simply relax on the beach and soak up the sun.
- The area is also known for its excellent fishing opportunities, both inshore and offshore. Visitors can charter a fishing boat to catch everything from red snapper to tuna, or head to one of the many piers and bridges to cast a line.
- For those who love the outdoors, Panama City Beach offers an abundance of activities such as hiking, biking, and bird-watching in the nearby state parks and nature preserves. Visitors can also take a tour of the nearby St. Andrews State Park, home to diverse wildlife and beautiful beaches.
- The city also offers a wide range of entertainment options, including live music, bars, and nightclubs, with plenty of options for nightlife entertainment, especially in the famous Pier Park area.
- Panama City Beach is also known for its delicious seafood, with a wide variety of restaurants offering everything from fresh local catches to international cuisine, visitors can enjoy great seafood and other local flavors during their stay.
Panama City Beach Nearby Cities
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9 miles away
- Rating: 4.4
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28 miles away
- Rating: 5.6
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Panama City Beach?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Panama City Beach has increased 2% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $352, which is higher than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$452,862
2% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$352
1% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$1,844
1% YoY
Local Short-Term Rental News for Panama City Beach
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Panama City Beach, Florida
Common terms for Panama City Beach short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Panama City Beach has a description approximately 2,456 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 9,764 listings in Panama City Beach, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Beach, Panama City, City Beach, Balcony, Gulf, Resort, Hot tub, Pier, Pool, and View.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Panama City Beach?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Panama City Beach involve going to the Beach, Swimming, Water Parks, Jet Skiing, and Snorkeling. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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Beach
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Swimming
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Water Parks
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Jet Skiing
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Snorkeling
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Scuba Diving
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Boating
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Zoo
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Adventure Activities
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Surfing
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Parasailing
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Marina
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Panama City Beach, including Pier Park, St. Andrews State Park, Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beaches, and Frank Brown Park. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Well Known Attraction
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Pier Park
Included on 57% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Frank Brown Park
Included on 57% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Panama City Beaches
Included on 57% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Thomas Drive
Included on 57% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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St. Andrews State Park
Included on 57% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Shipwreck Island Waterpark
Included on 57% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Russell-Fields Pier
Included on 57% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Carillon Beach
Included on 43% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Frank Brown Park
Included on 42% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Panama City Beaches
Included on 42% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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St. Andrews State Park
Included on 42% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Panama City Beach Sports Complex
Included on 42% of listings
What’s the weather like in Panama City Beach, Florida?
The weather is generally warmer than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 77°, while the average low is about 62°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 51 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Panama City Beach are generally muggier than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
49° Low 64° High
Spring
March through May
61° Low 77° High
Summer
June through August
76° Low 88° High
Fall
September through November
63° Low 79° High
Cities Near Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, Florida, is located in Bay County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
