Are your Short-term Rentals in Panama City, FL Properly Registered? Here's the info:

[January Johnson]

The City of Panama City (Florida) has instituted a 1% merchant fee for all STR owners. This fee was already being charged to all merchants and hotel operators, but the City just enlarged the scope to include STRs as well. They are working with the 4 largest OTAs to enforce it and to track how many STRs are in the City.  Airbnb, for example, has a notice on owners' listings that require them to register with the City by May 1, 2023.  The consequence of NOT registering is being delisted or restricted to 182-day+ (so LTR) reservations.

There are THREE places that a PC owner/host must register: 

1.  With the State of Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): http://www.myfloridalicense.co...

2.  With the Bay County Clerk of Court (where you will pay your 5% Tourist Development Tax):  https://tdc.baycoclerk.com/tou...

3.  With the City of Panama City (for the 1% merchant fee):  https://www.panamacity.gov/184...

You can register with all 3 places at the same time, meaning you don't have to do one before the other. However, the City will not approve your application until they have verified with the State and County that you are properly licensed and registered there.  

You will need to complete a separate City of PC Business License Application for each STR address.  There is no cost to apply for the local license. The 1% fee on your rental income, paid monthly, goes to the local TDC to promote tourism in the area.  The language in this ordinance/process mimics that of Panama City Beach, which also requires the fee but is a separate city from PC.

Have further questions?  Contact the City's Business Services office directly.  (BP won't let me post their phone number or email address, but the link with contact info is in #3 above.