As of May 2023, the Walton County Department of Planning & Development Services has begun rolling out a new Short-Term Vacation Rental Certification Program. To make this transition as smooth as possible, we've gathered all the details you'll need to know in order to register your short-term vacation rental property successfully.
Understanding the Registration Process
The Walton County Department of Planning & Development Services began notifying all currently identified owners or their designated agents about the new certification program in May 2023. The notifications are being sent out on a rolling geographic basis, specifying the timeframe during which applications will be accepted based on property location. Please note that this is only an estimate based on anticipated application submission workload and will be adjusted as required.
Before you start your application process, please make sure you have the following three items ready:
1. Florida Department of Revenue Registration Number: Contact your advertising/hosting platform to ensure that they have registered your short-term vacation rental with the Florida Department of Revenue to remit state taxes on your behalf. You will need the unique ID number associated with your property in order to apply for the county certificate.
2. Interior and Exterior Sketches of your Property: Contrary to some misconceptions, these sketches do not need to be professionally made. They can be hand drawn, as close to scale as possible, and should include all of the indicated items if applicable. For the interior sketch, a simple solution is to pull the interior dimensional drawing from the Walton County Property Appraiser’s website. For the exterior requirement, an exterior overhead screenshot from any mapping site could be used as the sketch base.
3. Exterior Signage: The sign must be prominently placed on the wall or property of the short-term vacation rental unit so that the required content of the sign shall be legible as viewed from the public right-of-way. The sign must indicate the name, and 24 hours per day, seven days a week emergency contact phone number or the locally available responsible party or the county's short-term vacation rental hotline number, and the unit's short-term vacation rental certificate number. The size of the sign should not be larger than 18 by 12 inches.
If you are unsure about the zoning of your property, all zoning information can be located on the Walton County Florida Geospatial Information System website. Simply search for your address and then toggle on Zoning from the Layers List.
Important Links for More Information
To further assist you in the registration process, we have compiled a list of important links to state and county information:
- State of Florida Vacation Rental Database: www.dbpr-publicrecords.myfloridalicense.com
- Walton County Planning Fee Resolution (Adopted March 28, 2023): www.co.walton.fl.us/DocumentCenter/View/41867/Planning-Fee-Resolution
- Walton County Tourist Development Tax Payment: www.waltonclerk.com
Keeping Updated
As the process continues to develop, Walton County is providing regular updates. For instance, as of June 22, 2023, new guidance has been issued regarding the use of Low Speed Vehicles (LSV) in relation to short-term vacation rentals. For more information, please refer to the following link: www.flhsmv.gov .
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Walton County Department of Planning
& Development Services. They are dedicated to making this process as streamlined as possible for all short-term vacation rental owners operating in Walton County.
Remember, the goal of this new certification program is to ensure the safety and satisfaction of all guests and residents in Walton County. By working together, we can create a thriving community of short-term vacation rentals that are beneficial for owners, guests, and the local community.
For more information, please visit the Walton County Short-Term Vacation Rental Certification Program website: www.co.walton.fl.us/1386/Short-Term-Vacation-Rental-Certification
I hope this information helps you navigate the new Short-Term Vacation Rental Certification Program. Stay tuned to our blog for more updates and real estate tips!
As always, feel free to reach out to us if you need any further information or assistance with your real estate needs.
It's worth mentioning that the crafting of this blog post was supported by an AI language model. The model helped in gathering relevant data and drafting the content, showcasing the potential of AI in providing valuable insights and predictions based on available data.
