Apalachicola short-term rental rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in Apalachicola, Florida

Apalachicola is in Franklin County on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Short-term rentals can be allowed in the City, but the rules depend on zoning. Stays under 30 days are only allowed in specific commercial and business zoning districts and the O/R (Office Residential) district. Residential zones cannot be rented for less than 30 days. Use this page as a practical starting point, then verify your exact address, zoning, and any HOA or condo restrictions.

Rules summary

Are short-term rentals allowed?

Yes, but zoning-limited inside City limits. In Apalachicola, short-term rentals (less than 30 days) are only allowed in O/R and commercial zones (C-1 to C-4) with additional restrictions by district. Short-term rentals are not allowed in residential zones.

Where is it regulated?

Verify whether rules are set by the city, the county, or both.

Registration or license

Required. City short-term rental owners must obtain a City license (renewed annually). A Florida DBPR vacation rental license may also be required depending on how the property is offered.

Local taxes

Florida state sales tax is 6%. Franklin County’s discretionary sales surtax is 1.0%. Franklin County’s Tourist Development Tax (TDT) is 3.0% on transient rentals (≤ 6 months), for a combined lodging tax burden of 10.0% (before platform fees).

Fees

STR-specific local fee: $0 (no separate STR registration fee was published for this jurisdiction in our sources). If a City/County Business Tax Receipt is required, the fee can vary by classification—verify before operating.

Occupancy and parking

City guidance for short-term rentals: the property must have a minimum of 2 units and no more than 10 units, and cooking facilities are limited to a microwave only. Verify any parking, trash, noise, and signage rules that apply to your zoning district and property type.

Minimum stay

Short-term rentals are defined as stays under 30 days. Residential zones do not allow short-term rentals. Confirm your exact zoning district before assuming nightly or weekly stays are permitted.

Enforcement and penalties

City Q&A lists fines for operating a short-term rental where it is not allowed in the City: $250 for a first offense and $500 for each subsequent offense within the same calendar year.

What to do next

• Confirm the property is inside City of Apalachicola limits and identify the parcel’s zoning district.
• If you want stays under 30 days, confirm the zoning district is one where short-term vacation rentals are allowed and whether any special exception or upper-floor restriction applies.
• Complete the City’s vacation rental business tax license application and checklist (including signage and parking documentation if required).
• Register for Florida Department of Revenue accounts and confirm how taxes are collected and remitted for your bookings.
• Write guest-facing house rules (noise, parking, trash) and keep renewal dates on your compliance calendar.

FAQ

Official sources

• City of Apalachicola: Residential Vacation Rental Fact Sheet (revised)
• City of Apalachicola: Commercial Vacation Rental Fact Sheet (revised)
• City of Apalachicola: Vacation Rental Business Tax License Application
• City of Apalachicola: Vacation Rental Business License Checklist
• Florida DBPR: Guide to Vacation Rentals
• Florida DOR: Local Option Transient Rental Tax Rates (DR-15TDT)
• Florida DOR: Discretionary Sales Surtax Rate Table
• City of Apalachicola: Short-term rental FAQ (Q&A)
• City of Apalachicola: Agenda packet (includes business tax receipt schedule)

Last verified: 2025-12-18. Rules and fees can change. Confirm directly with the relevant authority and any HOA or condo association.

Apalachicola STR Market Context

Apalachicola is a small, historic waterfront market where compliance is primarily a zoning question.

If your underwriting assumes nightly or weekly bookings, your first job is to confirm the zoning district and any special conditions before you model revenue.

What makes this market different

• Zoning is the gatekeeper: under-30-day rentals are limited to specific commercial and business districts and the O/R district, with additional restrictions in some areas.
• Residential zones are monthly-only: rentals in residential zones cannot be for less than 30 days.
• Expect a City vacation rental business tax license and a documentation checklist that can include signage and a parking plan.
• Taxes are layered: state sales tax plus county surtax, plus the Franklin County tourist development tax for transient rentals. Verify whether platforms collect or you must file.
• Coastal operating costs matter: insurance, flood exposure, and maintenance can move the net more than small differences in nightly rates.

Investor tip: treat compliance as a first-pass filter. Verify property-specific rules before finalizing purchase assumptions.

Short-Term ROI Calculator in Apalachicola

Estimate monthly revenue, expenses, and cash flow for a short-term rental in Apalachicola.