Walton County Aligns Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration Renewal with State DBPR Licensing Cycle

Walton County – 02/03/26 – Walton County, Florida, is streamlining compliance for short-term vacation rental owners by aligning its local registration renewal schedule with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) annual licensing cycle for District 6, which includes Walton County.

Effective immediately, this change—driven by direct feedback from property owners, managers, and other stakeholders—unifies renewal due dates to June 1 each year. The move aims to simplify the process, reduce administrative burden, and promote greater consistency between local and state requirements.

Key Details of the Updated Renewal Schedule:

• New Renewal Due Date: For the 2026-2027 cycle and all subsequent years, renewal registrations are due prior to June 1 annually (for applicable properties).

• Application Window: The online renewal portal opens April 1 each year, providing property owners with a full two-month window to submit applications.

• Reminder Notifications: Registered owners and managers will receive reminder emails approximately 15 days prior to the April 1 opening and 45 days prior to the June 1 deadline.

Transition and Applicability: This unified June 1 schedule applies to all short-term vacation rental properties in Walton County except those located in ZIP code 32459 (Santa Rosa Beach area). Properties in 32459 will continue on their existing renewal cycle until the County announces further updates.

For non-32459 properties, the transition begins with the next renewal in the 2026-2027 period.

Renewal Process and Requirements: Renewals must be completed online via the Walton County Vacation Rental Registration portal at https://apply.mywcfl.rentals. Property owners are reminded to ensure their state DBPR Vacation Rental

Dwelling License remains current, which also renews annually on June 1 (visit myfloridalicense.com for details).

Additional ongoing requirements include:

• Maintaining an active DBPR license and Department of Revenue registration (state mandated).

• Registering and remitting Tourism Development Tax through the Walton County Clerk of Courts.

• Timely renewal to avoid potential administrative fees or fines.

Walton County encourages all short-term vacation rental operators to review their status and prepare for the upcoming cycle. This alignment reflects the County’s commitment to responsive, efficient governance that supports the local tourism economy, while ensuring compliance and safety.

For more information, questions, or assistance, contact the Office of Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration team at stvr@mywaltonfl.gov or visit the official program page at https://mywcfl.rentals.