Gulf Place • South Walton (Walton County)

Short-term rental rules in Gulf Place, Florida

Gulf Place is an unincorporated South Walton beach community along Scenic Highway 30A. STR compliance here is primarily a Walton County process (registration + local standards), but the most important address-level check is still your property’s HOA/condo rules and any recorded deed restrictions.

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Short-Term Rental Rules in Gulf Place, Florida

Use this Rules Summary as an investor checklist. Always verify your exact property rules (HOA/condo, parking, quiet hours) before underwriting nightly rentals.

Rules summary

Are short-term rentals allowed?: Generally allowed in many South Walton neighborhoods, but HOA/condo restrictions (and any recorded restrictions) can limit or prohibit short-term rentals at the property level.
Where is it regulated?: Primarily Walton County (Vacation Rental Registration Program) plus Florida tax rules and (where applicable) DBPR vacation rental licensing. HOA/condo rules may add stricter limits.
Registration or license: Walton County requires an annual vacation rental registration for many STRs. Depending on property type and how it’s offered, a Florida DBPR vacation rental license may also apply—verify for your unit.
Local taxes: Florida state sales tax is 6%. Walton County’s discretionary sales surtax is 1.0%. Walton County’s Tourist Development Tax (TDT) is 5.0% on transient rentals (≤ 6 months), for a combined lodging tax burden of 12.0% (before platform fees).
Fees: Walton County’s Vacation Rental Registration Program (VRRP) annual fee is $300 per property (individual registration) or $227 per property (community registration). Common add-ons include $125 per managing agent change and $25 per local responsible party change; paper applications/changes add $100. Operating without a required registration can trigger penalties of $500/day plus other enforcement actions.
Occupancy and parking: Expect rules and enforcement to focus on noise, parking, trash day compliance, and having a fast local response contact. HOA/condo communities often set additional occupancy/guest rules and quiet hours.
Minimum stay: No single community-wide minimum stay is summarized here. Minimum-stay limits (if any) are most often driven by HOA/condo policy and property-level rules—verify at the address level.
Enforcement and penalties: Violations are often complaint-driven (noise/parking). Operating without required registration can trigger enforcement—your fee summary includes the commonly referenced $500/day penalty language used in Walton County materials.

What to do next

Confirm the property is in <strong>unincorporated South Walton</strong> (and not subject to a separate municipal ordinance).
Request HOA/condo docs and confirm STR allowance, minimum stays, guest rules, and fine schedule.
Complete Walton County vacation rental registration (and confirm whether DBPR licensing applies).
Set up tax collection/remittance (platform vs self-remit) and keep proof of compliance.
Build an operations plan focused on parking, quiet hours, and fast local response.

FAQ

Are short-term rentals allowed in Gulf Place?

Often yes in unincorporated South Walton, but it can hinge on HOA/condo rules and deed restrictions for your specific property. Always confirm in writing before buying.

Do I need a permit or registration to operate an STR in Gulf Place?

Walton County commonly requires annual vacation rental registration, and some properties may also require Florida DBPR vacation rental licensing depending on unit type and how it’s offered. Verify for your address.

What gets STR owners in trouble most often?

Complaints typically center on noise, parking overflow, and trash. A clear house manual, quiet hours, and a fast local response contact reduce risk.

Official sources

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

Gulf Place STR Market Context

Gulf Place tends to trade like a “community-with-rules” market: many listings are condos or townhomes where HOA policy, parking logistics, and quiet-hour enforcement matter as much as demand.

For investors, success is usually less about finding a perfect nightly rate and more about buying a property where STR use is clearly permitted and operational friction is low.

What makes this market different

HOA/condo docs are the make-or-break factor—get them before you close.
Parking capacity and quiet hours drive complaints; plan for guest communication and enforcement.
Walkability and beach access can boost occupancy, but only if the property can legally operate as an STR.

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

Short-Term ROI Calculator in Gulf Place

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

Output · Rough estimates

Estimated gross revenue (annual) $0

Estimated total expenses (incl. debt) $0

Estimated net income (before income tax) $0

Cash-on-cash return (approx.) 0%

Cap rate on purchase (approx.) 0%

Estimated monthly debt service $0

All values are approximate and for illustration only. Real underwriting should layer in property taxes, insurance, reserves, maintenance, capex, and your specific management structure in this market.

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Use these internal links to compare rules, fees, and underwriting assumptions across neighboring markets.