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**

We are now accepting applications for 2025. The deadline to re-register for 2025 is October 1, 2024. To apply, email fireinspections@pcbfl.gov.

Returning Applicants
For those who have passed their 2024 inspection, received a certificate and made no changes to property ownership, re-registration will require only the submission of an application and a notarized affidavit.

To obtain a renewed vacation rental certificate, the following will be required:
• A completed Vacation Rental Registration Application form
• A notarized Vacation Rental Registration Affidavit form

After the application has been processed, Fire Inspections will email an invoice number and payment link.
• Click here to search an invoice
     ○ Invoices can be searched by Address or by Invoice number

Please see the re-registration fees below.
• $150 Re-registration Fee
• $75 Re-Inspect Fee

New Applicants
New applicants must submit the full application packet.

To apply for a Vacation Rental Certificate, submit an application by emailing fireinspections@pcbfl.gov.
The application should consist of the following:
• A completed Vacation Rental Registration Application form
• A notarized Vacation Rental Registration Affidavit form
• Proof of DBPR (Department of Business & Professional Regulations) License
• Proof of Registration with the Bay County TDC / TDT (Tourist Development Tax)
• Have a valid PCB Local BTR (Business Tax Receipt) number
• Have a pool inspection (if applicable)

After the application has been processed, Fire Inspections will email an invoice number and payment link.
• Click here to search an invoice
     ○ Invoices can be searched by Address or by Invoice number

Please see the registration fees below.
• $250 Registration Fee*
• $75 Re-Inspect Fee**
• $100 Lock-out Fee***

The council also set penalties for violations.
• First offense -- $500
• Second offense -- $1,000
• Third and subsequent violations within a 12-month period - $1,000 and the revocation of the vacation rental certificate for one year. This applies to individual units, not a management company as a whole.

*Any change in property ownership is considered a new application. As such, this change will require the submission of a new registration fee.
**Failure to pass inspection will result in a $75 reinspection fee.
***Failure to admit the inspector entry or failure to provide means of entry, will result in a $100 "no-show" or "lock-out" fee.

After payment, please reach out to fireinspections@pcbfl.gov for scheduling.
• A list of available dates will be provided
     ○ Please note, we cannot enter occupied dwellings without an escort.
     ○ If the unit is unoccupied, we can accept a door code, and your vacation rental certificate will be left in the unit.

• Signage must be visible from the exterior of the house or unit which details an emergency contact telephone list, and the Vacation Rental Certificate Number received after inspection is passed.
• Information on beach safety, particularly the Beach Safety Flag Warnings, and Leave No Trace ordinances must be posted.
     ○ 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.

WHILE YOU ARE AWAITING YOUR INSPECTION, YOU MAY STILL RENT THE UNIT. 

Also, for your information:

Florida Certified Fire Extinguisher Companies