On September 28, 2023, the Panama City Beach City Council passed Ordinance 1632 concerning the registration, reporting and inspection requirements for vacation rentals operating in the City. In many cases, the ordinance simply solidifies the rules and regulations under which short-term rentals were already operating.
**This only applies to properties within the City limits of Panama City Beach. Bay County passed a similar ordinance in August 2023. For information on the County's ordinance, click here. To see if your property is located within the City limits, click here.**
The ordinance goes into effect on February 1, 2024. Pre-registration for life safety inspections opened November 1, 2023, To preregister, email fireinspections@pcbfl.gov.
Ordinance 1632 allows for occupancy of one person per 150 sq. ft. of habitable space. Balconies, porches, patios, and garages are not counted as habitable space. The calculation is not based on the number of bedrooms, only the square footage. Currently, the occupancy load under State Statutes is one person per 200 sq. ft. for condos. The higher occupancy rate can only be granted after the unit has passed a life safety inspection and a finding that there are no fire code violations within the unit. Until that occurs, maximum occupancy remains at one person per 200 sq. ft.
Read the full ordinance here.
Click here for a step-by-step guide through the process.
Click here for a fillable application form.
Click here for an affidavit form.
Click here for a brochure on short-term rentals provided by DBPR.
Information on beach safety, particularly the beach flag warning system, and Leave No Trace ordinances must be posted.
These can be found here: Beach Safety Flag Warnings Leave No Trace.
To further help short-term rentals with signage, click here for a one-page document that can be edited with your information.
(This is in Power Point format.)
Here's a quick check list for interior signage, exterior signage, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, exit and egress, electrical, storage and general fire prevention.