Bay County · Panama City Beach certificates, a county program outside city limits, and Mexico Beach
Vacation Rental & Airbnb Management in Bay County, FL
Bay County’s rental coast runs from the Walton line through Panama City Beach to Mexico Beach. Panama City Beach certifies and fire-inspects every vacation rental, condos included, every year; unincorporated Bay County runs its own short-term vacation rental certificate; and Mexico Beach governs itself under its own code. Florida Hosts works out which applies to an address, then handles the certificate, the tourist tax and Airbnb management, with mid-term and long-term leasing through licensed brokers.
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Step 1 of 4 · Address
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What we deliver
Full-service management across Bay County
Florida Hosts handles every part of a Bay County vacation rental — listing creation and photography, dynamic pricing, 24/7 guest communication, cleaning, and turnovers. One fee: 18–25% of booking revenue, quoted in writing before you sign.
See all services →Why Bay County
Panama City Beach’s Gulf front, St. Andrews State Park, Pier Park and the city and county fishing piers draw families, and Frank Brown Park hosts youth sports tournaments. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) sits about 20 minutes from Panama City Beach. Tyndall Air Force Base brings military visitors, and Mexico Beach draws guests looking for a quieter beach near St. Joseph Bay.
Bay County
Where we manage in and around Bay County
Each Bay County city brings its own demand profile and guest mix. Pick yours for its own rules, taxes and guests.
Panama City Beach
Airbnb and short-term rental management in Panama City Beach, built around the city's Vacation Rental Certificate, its yearly fire inspection and Bay County's 5% tourist tax.
ExploreMexico Beach
Mexico Beach rebuilt after Hurricane Michael made landfall nearby in 2018.
ExploreOkaloosa County
Okaloosa County’s coast packs three different rule sets into a few miles.
ExploreWalton County
Walton County’s coast, from Miramar Beach through the Scenic Highway 30A towns to Rosemary Beach, is unincorporated: the county lists only DeFuniak Springs, Freeport and Paxton as municipalities.
ExploreSanta Rosa County
Santa Rosa County’s beach is Navarre Beach, with the mainland community of Navarre across Santa Rosa Sound.
ExploreEscambia County
Escambia County pairs a historic Navy city with a barrier-island beach that cannot be bought outright.
ExploreGulf County
Gulf County is the quiet end of the Panhandle coast: Cape San Blas and the St. Joseph Peninsula wrap around St. Joseph Bay, with Port St. Joe across the water.
ExploreLocal vs. national
The Bay County advantage: local knowledge at every level
A national platform prices Bay County from a spreadsheet and sends whoever is free to turn the unit. We work it address by address: which city or county code applies, which tax accounts the stay needs, and our own cleaning and maintenance staff on every turnover, with guests able to reach us 24/7.
Get my free Bay County projectionFree projection · about a minute
Own a property in Bay County?
Send us the address and we'll come back with real numbers for it, from a person on our team, within one business day.
Free, no obligation. Prefer to talk? Call (321) 321-2348
Step 1 of 4 · Address
What’s the address of your property?
We’ll pull real, comparable Florida listings to build your projection.
Regulatory compliance
Bay County short-term rental rules
Inside Panama City Beach, Ordinance 1632 requires a Vacation Rental Certificate for every vacation rental, re-registered and fire-inspected annually, and City Code §14-31 requires a city Business Tax Receipt number on every online listing. In unincorporated Bay County, Code §14-141 (Ordinance 23-18, amended 2025) requires an annual short-term vacation rental certificate for houses, 2–4 family dwellings, RVs and mobile homes, with renewals due by October 1, occupancy of one person per 150 square feet, a 24/7 responsible party who can arrive within one hour, and the certificate number on every listing.
Always confirm the latest rules with the relevant local authority before listing — we'll point you to exactly what applies to your property.
Tourist development tax
5%
On rentals of six months or less, on top of Florida's 6% state tax.
Florida DOR, DR-15TDT Local Option Transient Rental Tax Rates (R. 10/26)Common questions
Bay County STR management — FAQs
What tourist tax applies to vacation rentals in Bay County?
Bay County’s tourist development tax is 5%. DOR form DR-15TDT limits it to listed ZIP codes, and the Bay County Tax Collector describes it as the tax for Panama City Beach, Panama City and Mexico Beach area properties. The Tax Collector took over collection from the Clerk on October 1, 2026. Guests also pay Florida’s 6% sales tax and Bay’s 1% surtax.
Does Bay County’s rental certificate apply in Panama City Beach?
No. Bay County Code §14-141 covers unincorporated Bay County. Inside Panama City Beach the city’s own Vacation Rental Certificate under Ordinance 1632 applies, and the city’s page links a ward map so owners can check which side of the line a property is on.
Do condos need a certificate in Panama City Beach?
Yes. The city defines a vacation rental to include units in a condominium or cooperative, and its page says every vacation rental needs a valid certificate. Condos display a decal on an exterior door or window instead of the yard sign used by single-family homes.
Sources
- Florida DOR, DR-15TDT Local Option Transient Rental Tax Rates (R. 10/26) · October 2026
- Florida DOR, DR-15DSS Discretionary Sales Surtax, Calendar Year 2026 · October 2026
- Bay County Tax Collector — Tourist Development Tax · October 2026
- Bay County Clerk — Tourist Development Tax transition notice · October 2026
- Bay County Code §14-141 — Short-Term Vacation Rentals (Municode) · October 2026
- City of Panama City Beach — Short-Term Rentals · October 2026
- Panama City Beach Code §14-31 (Municode) · October 2026
- Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) · October 2026
- Florida State Parks — St. Andrews State Park · October 2026
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