Port St. Joe • Gulf County, FL

Port St. Joe short‑term rental rules (Gulf County licensing)

Port St. Joe is a smaller, higher‑quality coastal market with growing investor interest and easy access to St. Joseph Peninsula beaches. Compared to larger resort corridors, the upside is a calmer guest profile; the downside is that compliance is more “process‑driven” because Gulf County uses a licensing/inspection framework.

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Short-Term Rental Rules in Port St. Joe, Florida

If your property is in Port St. Joe city limits, you’ll generally follow both Gulf County’s STR licensing process and any city business licensing requirements. Start with confirming city limits, then build your compliance stack around the county application/inspection steps.

Rules summary

Are short-term rentals allowed?: Short-term rentals are generally allowed, but the key is whether you’re inside city limits (Port St. Joe) or in unincorporated Gulf County—and whether your HOA/condo allows STRs.
Where is it regulated?: Gulf County (county STR business license + inspection) and, if inside the City of Port St. Joe, additional city business licensing. Florida state requirements (tax + DBPR licensing where applicable) also apply.
Registration or license: Gulf County requires a short‑term rental business license and uses an application/inspection process. You’ll also need to register for Florida sales tax and Gulf County tourist development tax. City business licensing may apply for addresses within Port St. Joe city limits.
Local taxes: Florida state sales tax is 6%. Gulf County’s discretionary surtax is 1%. Gulf County’s tourist development tax is commonly 5%, for an estimated all‑in lodging tax burden of 12.0% (before platform fees).
Fees: Budget for Gulf County STR licensing/inspection fees and possible reinspections, plus any city business tax receipt fees if inside Port St. Joe.
Occupancy and parking: Licensing/inspection programs typically emphasize life‑safety basics (smoke alarms, egress) plus local operational standards (parking, trash, emergency info).
Minimum stay: County rules generally focus on licensing/inspection and do not create a single minimum stay for every neighborhood; property‑level rules and HOAs often set the minimum nights.
Enforcement and penalties: Operating without a required county STR license or failing to maintain compliance can result in fines and an inactive status until issues are corrected.

What to do next

Confirm jurisdiction: Port St. Joe city limits vs unincorporated Gulf County.
Start the county STR license process early (application + any required inspections/documentation).
Set up taxes: Florida sales tax + Gulf County TDT. Confirm platform remittance.
Review city business licensing requirements if inside Port St. Joe limits.
Build your beach‑market SOP: storm plan, local contact, parking/trash rules, and maintenance response time.

FAQ

Do I need a Gulf County STR license?

Gulf County publishes an STR business license program and resources. Use the official portal and ordinance documentation linked below.

Do I also need a City of Port St. Joe license?

If you’re inside city limits, city business licensing requirements may apply in addition to the county STR license.

What taxes apply?

Expect Florida sales tax + Gulf County surtax, plus Gulf County tourist development tax. Platforms may remit some taxes—confirm what’s covered.

Are there minimum stay rules?

Often driven by HOA/condo rules and property manager strategy, not a single citywide requirement.

What’s the fastest way to avoid problems?

Follow the county license process early, keep life‑safety items documented, and set strict house rules for noise/parking/trash.

Official sources

Last verified: 2025-12-21. Rules and fees can change. Confirm directly with the relevant authority and any HOA or condo association.

Port St. Joe STR Market Context

Port St. Joe investors typically win by positioning for families and longer stays, leaning on quality renovations and “quiet beach town” branding.

Because inventory is smaller, reviews and repeat guests can make a bigger difference than in a mega‑market.

What makes this market different

Licensing is a real onboarding step: Gulf County’s STR business license process can affect your launch timeline—don’t wait until the week you list.
Seasonality still matters: Underwrite shoulder seasons (spring/fall) and consider mid‑term stays for stability.
Beach access + drive time: Proximity to Cape San Blas / St. Joseph Peninsula access points often commands better ADR.
Hurricane exposure: Model insurance and downtime; keep guest messaging and backup plans ready.
Local operations: Reliable cleaners and fast maintenance response are the difference between 4.7★ and 4.9★ in small markets.

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

Short-Term ROI Calculator in Port St. Joe

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

Output · Rough estimates

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Estimated total expenses (incl. debt) $0

Estimated net income (before income tax) $0

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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.