If you want to operate a short-term rental in St. Augustine, Florida, you must complete several licensing and tax registrations before listing your property on Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com.

Many new hosts assume they can simply publish a listing and start accepting bookings. In reality, Florida requires vacation rentals to be licensed at the state level and registered locally with the county or city.

Failing to complete these steps can lead to fines, listing suspensions, or forced shutdowns of your vacation rental business.

Below is a step-by-step guide explaining how to obtain a St. Augustine short-term rental license and operate legally.

This will make it easy to get a vacation rental permit in St. Augustine, FL.

For a full breakdown of Florida STR licensing requirements, visit:
https://vacationhomehelp.com/vacation-rental-licenses/

Step 1: Register for a Florida Sales Tax Certificate

Before applying for any St. Augustine vacation rental permits, you must register your business with the Florida Department of Revenue.

Short-term rentals must collect Florida state sales tax on all reservations.

How to register

1. Visit the Florida Department of Revenue website
2. Click General Tax
3. Under Registering a Business, select Account Registration
4. Click Florida Business Tax Application
5. Create an account and submit your application

Use the following NAICS Code:

721199 — All Other Traveler Accommodation

Once approved, you will receive your Florida Sales Tax Certificate, which is required before moving to the next step.

Step 2: Apply for a Florida Vacation Rental License (DBPR)

All vacation rentals in Florida must obtain a license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

This license legally classifies your property as a vacation rental business.

Application steps

1. Visit the Florida DBPR Online Services Portal
2. Create an online account
3. Select Apply for a New License
4. Choose:

Division of Hotels & Restaurants ? Lodging License

Then select the correct license type:

• Vacation Rental – Dwelling (single-family homes)
• Vacation Rental – Condo (condominiums)

After completing the application, submit the required documents and pay the licensing fee.

Step 3: Obtain a St. Johns County Business Tax Receipt

If your property operates in St. Johns County, you must obtain a Business Tax Receipt (BTR). This functions as your local business license.

Steps

1. Visit the St. Johns County Tax Collector Business Tax Receipt page
2. Select BTR Application
3. Submit your property and business information
4. Pay the applicable fee

Once approved, you will receive your local business tax certificate.

Step 4: Register for Tourist Development Tax (TDT)

Short-term rental owners in St. Johns County must collect and remit Tourist Development Tax (TDT) from guests.

As of 2025, the rate is 5% of the reservation total.

How to register

1. Visit the St. Johns County Tourist Development Tax page
2. Click TDT Application
3. Register as a tax collector
4. Receive credentials to file monthly tax returns

This tax is separate from Airbnb service fees or state sales tax.

Step 5: Register Your Short-Term Rental Property

The final step is registering your property as a short-term rental with the local government.

This requirement depends on whether the property is inside city limits or unincorporated county areas.

If your property is located in:

Unincorporated St. Johns County
Apply through the St. Johns County STR Permit Portal

City of St. Augustine
Apply through the City of St. Augustine Short-Term Rental Permit Portal

Most applications require submitting:

• Florida DBPR License
• Florida Sales Tax Certificate
• St. Johns County Business Tax Receipt
• Tourist Development Tax Registration
• Property documentation and safety compliance

Some properties may also require inspections.

Why Vacation Rental Owners Should Keep Licenses in Their Own Name

One of the most common mistakes we see is owners allowing a property manager to hold their licenses or listing accounts.

At Vacation Home Help, we recommend owners always keep:

• Airbnb and Vrbo accounts
• Licensing registrations
• Tax registrations
• Payout accounts

in their own name.

This protects your business because:

You maintain legal control of the property
You can change managers anytime without losing access
You always see your real revenue and taxes

Vacation Home Help helps owners self-manage successfully while we handle the operational work behind the scenes.

Start Your Vacation Rental the Right Way

Starting an Airbnb in St. Augustine can be extremely profitable, but only if the property is properly licensed and compliant with local regulations.

Completing these five steps ensures your vacation rental is operating legally at the state, county, and city levels.

For more resources about vacation rental licensing in Florida, visit:
https://vacationhomehelp.com/vacation-rental-licenses/