Escambia County · Historic Pensacola and the leased island land of Pensacola Beach
Vacation Rental & Airbnb Management in Escambia County, FL
Escambia County pairs a historic Navy city with a barrier-island beach that cannot be bought outright. Pensacola’s houses suit a mix of nightly, mid-term and annual rentals, while Pensacola Beach is county-owned land on Santa Rosa Island, leased to owners by the Santa Rosa Island Authority for up to 99 years. Florida Hosts manages both under state law and Escambia’s tax rules, and handles mid-term and long-term leasing with licensed brokers.
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What we deliver
Full-service management across Escambia County
Florida Hosts handles every part of a Escambia 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 Escambia County
Naval Air Station Pensacola is home to the National Naval Aviation Museum and is the home station and practice site of the Blue Angels. Pensacola Beach and the Fort Pickens Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore draw beachgoers. Baptist Hospital, Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and HCA Florida West Hospital bring medical stays, the University of West Florida brings visiting families, and Pensacola International Airport (PNS) serves the region.
Escambia County
Where we manage in and around Escambia County
Each Escambia County city brings its own demand profile and guest mix. Pick yours for its own rules, taxes and guests.
Pensacola
Airbnb and short-term rental management for Pensacola's historic neighborhoods, plus mid-term and long-term leasing for the Navy, hospital and university crowd, with Escambia County's 5% tourist tax.
ExplorePensacola Beach
On Pensacola Beach the land is county-owned and leased, not sold.
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.
ExploreBay County
Bay County’s rental coast runs from the Walton line through Panama City Beach to Mexico Beach.
ExploreSanta Rosa County
Santa Rosa County’s beach is Navarre Beach, with the mainland community of Navarre across Santa Rosa Sound.
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 Escambia County advantage: local knowledge at every level
A national platform prices Escambia 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.
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Own a property in Escambia 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
Escambia County short-term rental rules
We did not find a county, city or Santa Rosa Island Authority vacation rental registration in force, and we do not claim one. Every vacation rental needs a DBPR license, and §509.032(7)(b) bars local rules that ban vacation rentals or regulate their duration or frequency unless adopted by June 1, 2011. On Pensacola Beach, the Island Authority, created by the Legislature in 1947, leases the land and is funded by lease fees; each lease and association rule set can limit use. Escambia’s code assigns tourist tax collection to the clerk of the circuit court.
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
Escambia County STR management — FAQs
What tourist tax applies to vacation rentals in Escambia County?
Escambia County’s tourist development tax is 5% on rentals of six months or less (DOR DR-15TDT), administered by the county; Chapter 90 of the county code places collection with the clerk of the circuit court. Guests also pay Florida’s 6% sales tax and Escambia’s 1.5% discretionary sales surtax, half a point above neighboring Panhandle counties.
Can I buy land on Pensacola Beach?
The Santa Rosa Island Authority says Pensacola Beach is owned by Escambia County and that, because of restrictions in the federal deed, land may not be purchased. Property is leased by the Island Authority for periods of up to 99 years.
Can guests visit the National Naval Aviation Museum?
Yes. The Navy’s museum page says admission and parking are free, but the museum is on Naval Air Station Pensacola, so adults need a government-issued ID and the public gate keeps set hours.
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
- Florida Statutes §509.032 (local regulation of vacation rentals) · October 2026
- Florida Statutes §509.241 (DBPR license for public lodging, incl. vacation rentals) · October 2026
- Escambia County Code Ch. 90, Art. II — Tourist Development Tax (Municode) · October 2026
- Santa Rosa Island Authority — About SRIA · October 2026
- U.S. Navy — National Naval Aviation Museum, Plan Your Visit · October 2026
- U.S. Navy, Training Air Wing Six — NAS Pensacola · October 2026
- Pensacola International Airport (PNS) · October 2026
- National Park Service — Gulf Islands National Seashore · October 2026
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