Property Management in Fernandina Beach, FL — Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rental and Airbnb management in Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach is the city on Amelia Island, across the St. Marys River at the state line. Since 2000 the city has required a resort rental dwelling permit for any stay under 30 days, and its zoning decides which homes can get one. A house that cannot be permitted can still be a monthly or annual rental.

That makes property management in Fernandina Beach a zoning question first. We check the district, confirm whether an R-1 or R-2 home carries a permit that has never lapsed, and only then plan the listing. Short-term rental management here also means 30-minute in-person response and an annual inspection.

Where guests come from

History and beaches bring visitors. The Amelia Island Lighthouse, built in 1838, is Florida’s oldest lighthouse and the only one from the Territorial Period to survive without major rebuilding; the city has owned it since 2001 and runs tours from the Atlantic Recreation Center.

Fort Clinch State Park, at 2601 Atlantic Avenue, wraps a Civil War fort in a 1,400-acre park, and on the first weekend of every month a soldier garrison fires its cannons. Guests flying in use Jacksonville International Airport (JAX).

Fernandina Beach short-term rental rules

City Code §26-101 makes it unlawful to let any dwelling for resort rental (stays under 30 days) without a resort rental dwelling permit. The application goes in at least 30 days before the first stay and shows the DBPR license, the Department of Revenue tax number and a 24-hour contact. The home is inspected at least once a year, by the city, DBPR or a licensed home inspector using the city’s checklist. Permits last one year and do not pass to a buyer.

Once permitted, the home’s occupancy is one person per 150 square feet of gross floor area, and parking is one off-street space per four guests. The contact must be able to respond in person within 30 minutes. Guests sign an agreement covering trash, noise, beach litter, sea turtle lighting and open containers. The permit hangs near the main entrance, its number appears on every listing, and a copy goes to the condo or homeowners’ association within ten days.

Zoning sets where permits are possible. The Land Development Code’s table of land uses lists resort rental as permissible in R-3, and §10.01.01 lets homes in R-1 and R-2 that were resort rentals when Ordinance 2000-28 took effect on October 3, 2000 continue, provided the permit has not expired. Running without a permit costs $1,000 on a first citation.

Taxes on Fernandina Beach vacation rentals

Stays of six months or less carry Florida’s 6% sales tax under §212.03 and Nassau County’s 1% discretionary sales surtax on the DR-15DSS for 2026.

Nassau County’s tourist development tax is 5%, and the state’s DR-15TDT chart notes that it applies only in ZIP code 32034 for Amelia Island. The county collects it, so it is filed separately from the state return.

How Florida Hosts manages Fernandina Beach rentals

In Fernandina Beach we file and renew the RRDP, book the annual inspection, keep the permit number on every listing and deliver the copy to the association.

Our Airbnb management covers pricing, listings and 24/7 guest communication, with our own cleaning and maintenance staff handling turnovers and the city’s roll-out trash service. Permitted resort rentals in Fernandina Beach are managed for 18–25% of booking revenue, quoted in writing up front. Homes that zoning keeps out of the permit program can be managed as mid-term or long-term rentals with licensed brokers handling the leasing. Your free rental projection is ready within one business day.