St. Augustine, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations

City Code of Ordinances

The City Commission adopted rules for Short-Term Rentals. These regulations deal specifically with short-term vacation rentals. The basic requirements per zoning district are listed below:

• RS-1 & RS-2 Zoning - may be rented for periods of one week or longer with approved registration. Nightly rentals are not allowed in RS-1 and RS-2 zoning. 
• HP-1 Zoning - may be rented on a monthly or greater period of time with approved registration.
• All other Zoning Districts: may be rented on a nightly basis with approved registration.

Ordinances:

1. ORD 2019-50 Short-Term Rental RegulationsPDF
2. ORD 2019-51 Short Term Rentals RS-1 & RS-2PDF
3. ORD 2019-52 Submerged Lands HP-1

Business License Requirements

Here is a link to the Registration Portal of Short-Term Rentals that need to be registered in the City.You will need to register each individual short-term rental listing on your Property (if you have two short-term rentals listed on a rental site (ex. Airbnb), you will need two registrations.

The City Commission adopted the following tiered rate fee schedule with Resolution 2020-27: a Base Rate of $294.48 + $73.81 per rental bedroom. A late renewal fee is $100, and a re-inspection fee is $50.

• Studio* - $294.48 
• One Bedroom - ($294.48 + $73.81) = $368.29
• Two Bedrooms - ($294.48 + $147.62) = $442.10
• Three Bedrooms - ($294.48 + $221.43) = $515.92
• Four Bedrooms - ($294.48 + $295.24) = $589.73
• Five or more Bedrooms - ($294.48 + $369.05) = $663.54

* - Studio/Efficiency spaces are limited to 2 occupants. A studio/efficiency is "A dwelling unit containing only one habitable room."

Application fees are non-refundable if your application is denied or if your property does not pass the final inspection.

Building and Housing Standards

The City of St. Augustine Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance (2019- 50) requires a Life-Safety Inspection, performed by the St. Augustine Fire Department at the time of registration and annually after that. Listed here are the fire-safety requirements for all short-term rental properties.

Examples: Floor and Site Plans

1. Example Floor PlanPDF
2. Example Survey Site Plan

View Noise Regulations Here.  You can File A Complaint Online, or you can call 904-569-7077 

Tourist and Local Taxes

Pursuant to St. Johns County Ordinance, 2021-43, an additional 1% tourist development tax has been approved. Effective October 1, 2021, the tourist development tax rate will be 5%. For more information, please click here.

To view the ordinance, please click here.

Other Rules

Each rental unit must provide at least one (1) parking space per bedroom on-site. This parking may be provided off-site with special approval from the City's Planning & Zoning Board. Each parking space shall be stabilized with concrete, asphalt, pavers, or gravel. Grass, mulch, or sand are not acceptable areas for parking. 
The total maximum is twelve (12) occupants. This is computed at two (2) persons per bedroom plus an additional two (2) children under the age of 18.

Each short-term rental is inspected for life safety, zoning, and property maintenance compliance at the time of registration and annually thereafter.

By issuing this Short Term Rental Registration, the City of St. Augustine does not warranty the land use, zoning, or final construction of any property or recognize that it is duly permitted or compliant with the Comprehensive Plan or land development regulations of the City.  The applicant is responsible for ensuring compliance with the City Comprehensive Plan, land development regulations, and all ordinances of the City.