Self-managing in Jacksonville Beach means you handle city paperwork and county taxes. People you arrange handle visits, cleaning, and repairs. BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7.
Registration comes first. The city requires a certificate for rentals used as transient lodging.
“Single-family, townhouses, and multi-family units being used as transient public lodging establishments are required to obtain a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate.”
Source: City of Jacksonville Beach
The application form also lists exclusions.
“Single-family, townhouse, or multi-family dwellings subject to deed restrictions and covenants of a home-owners association, condominium units, timeshare projects, and owner-occupied dwelling units renting fifty (50) percent or less shall not be subject to the regulations of this code.”
Source: Jacksonville Beach application
What this means for you: The form excludes HOA deed-restricted homes, condos, and timeshares. It also excludes owner-occupied units renting 50% or less. That 50% refers to the portion of the unit rented. Ask the city to confirm your property’s scope. Do not assume every property qualifies.
What BnBGenius Does for a Host in Jacksonville Beach
Answers Guest Messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7
It also covers Vrbo automated messages.
Requests a Review from the Guest and Publishes the Host’s Review
Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder, shared his result on reviews.
“We went from reviewing 40% of stays to 100% overnight. The AI even thanked guests for things we fixed mid-stay. Our review-to-review rate jumped immediately.”
Source: Testimonial, Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder (reviews)
Creates Cleaning and Repair Tasks After Checkout
Kent described how tasks work for his team.
“We used to find out about issues in post-stay reviews. Now BnBGenius flags them mid-stay, creates the task, and our cleaners respond in under 15 minutes.”
Source: Testimonial, Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder (tasks)
See managing a cleaning team without text chains and whether you need a PMS.
Answers Guest Calls with a Voice AI Agent (Voice Concierge, an add-on)
Sells Gap Nights, Early Check-In and Late Checkout
Is Run from Telegram
BnBGenius is not a PMS. It does not know local rules; see Florida short-term rental laws.
Your Local Person
Jacksonville Beach requires a Responsible Party for each rental.
“The responsibility of a short-term vacation rental Responsible Party is to respond to inspections, complaints, and other more immediate problems related to the short-term vacation rental property. A property owner or licensed agent may serve in this capacity. A Responsible Party must be at least 18 years of age or older and must be: 1. Available at a listed phone number twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week; 2. Available to address issues at the short-term vacation rental property within two (2) hours; 3. Authorized to receive service of any legal notice on behalf of the owner for violations of the ordinance; 4. Able to produce copies of the executed rental or lease agreement for current occupants as needed; and 5. Monitoring the short-term vacation rental weekly to ensure compliance with the ordinance.”
Source: Jacksonville Beach application
What this means for you: Read all the quoted duties before choosing someone. Arrange a qualified party, plus people for onsite cleaning and repairs. Do not appoint a cleaner automatically.
What the City Requires
| Item | City text |
|---|---|
| Inspection before issuance | “An inspection of a short-term vacation rental unit is required prior to the initial issuance of and/or modifications to a Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration Certificate. In accordance with City ordinance, an inspection of the rental unit will be conducted by the Fire Marshal by appointment only. If violations are found, all violations must be corrected and the unit must be re-inspected prior to issuance of the registration certificate.” (Source: City of Jacksonville Beach) |
| Inspection request and access | “The inspection shall be requested by the Responsible Party. Failure to provide the Fire Marshal access at the scheduled time will result in a “no show” fee of $100.” (Source: City of Jacksonville Beach) |
| Registration fees | “The fee for initial and annual registration for each property is $150. The annual fee for a Local Business Tax Receipt is $79.20 for each property.” (Source: City of Jacksonville Beach) |
| Annual renewal | “All Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration Certificate holders must apply annually for a renewal of their Certificate by October 1st of each calendar year.” (Source: City of Jacksonville Beach) |
What this means for you: The Fire Marshal inspects by appointment only. Plan for someone to be there and let the inspector in. If problems are found, fix them first. The unit is checked again if problems were found. The certificate comes after that. Apply for renewal each year.
| Item | City text |
|---|---|
| Occupancy | “Maximum occupancy shall be limited to two (2) persons per bedroom, plus (2), not to exceed twelve (12) occupants per unit. For the purpose of calculating maximum occupancy, only individuals over the age of twenty-four (24) months shall be included.” (Source: Jacksonville Beach application) |
| Parking | “Minimum off-street parking shall be equal to the maximum occupancy as defined in Section 34-731(c)(1) divided by four (4). A maximum of four (4) cars may be parked at any given short term vacation rental property at one time.” (Source: Jacksonville Beach application) |
| Guest posting | “On the back of, or next to the main entrance door, or on the refrigerator there shall be provided as a single page document the following information: a. Responsible Party contact information; b. Maximum occupancy of the unit; c. Quiet hours are to be observed between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. daily; d. Maximum number of vehicles that can be parked at the unit and the location of parking; e. Schedule of solid waste and recycling pick-up; f. Notice of sea turtle nesting season restrictions and sea turtle lighting usage as applicable; g. Emergency numbers for local police and fire; and h. Location of the nearest hospital.” (Source: Jacksonville Beach application) |
| Certificate posting | “The Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate must be available at each dwelling unit posted facing outside in the window closet to the front door.” (Source: Jacksonville Beach application) |
What this means for you: Check the quoted occupancy and parking limits. Post the guest page and certificate as described. Include the turtle notice only as applicable.
Taxes
“Florida’s 6% state sales tax, plus any applicable discretionary sales surtax, applies to rental charges or room rates paid for the right to use or occupy living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations for rental periods of six months or less, often called “transient accommodations” or “transient rentals.””
Source: Florida Department of Revenue
What this means for you: Florida charges 6% state sales tax on stays of six months or less. A surtax may be added.
| Tax | Rate and details |
|---|---|
| Duval discretionary surtax (2026) | “Duval 1.5% (.5%) Jan 1, 1989 None (.5%) Jan 1, 2001 Dec 31, 2030 (.5%) Jan 1, 2021 Dec 31, 2035” (Source: Florida Department of Revenue) |
| Duval tourist development tax | “Duval 6% County” (Source: Florida Department of Revenue) |
What this means for you: Read the printed dates and details in each row. Check the scope of each tax for your property.
“There is no agreement between Duval County and any online platform (AirBNB, VRBO, HomeAway, Evolve, etc) that will allow that online platform to collect and remit taxes to Duval County on behalf of any property owner.”
Source: Duval County Tax Collector guide
What this means for you: The Duval guide says no platform has an agreement to collect Duval taxes for owners. This covers the Duval tourist tax. Check your own bookings.
| Platform | What its page lists | Host’s remaining duty |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | “Florida Transient Rental Tax: 6% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 182 nights and shorter.” (Source: Airbnb Help) “Florida Discretionary Sales Surtax: 0.5%-1.5% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 182 nights and shorter.” (Source: Airbnb Help) | “Hosts may need to manually collect and remit other applicable taxes on their stay or experience price.” (Source: Airbnb Help) |
| Vrbo | “Florida State Transient Rentals Tax, Discretionary County Surtax Note: Discretionary County Surtax is state tax surcharges required by various counties that Vrbo will also be collecting and remitting. These rates vary between 0.5-2%. The state of Florida under 184 nights December 1, 2018” (Source: Vrbo Help) “Florida Counties: Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Levy, Madison, Okeechobee, Pasco, Sumter, Wakulla, Washington. County Tourist Development Tax All Florida counties under 184 nights December 1, 2018” (Source: Vrbo Help) | “You’re also responsible for collecting and remitting lodging taxes when we’re not liable to do so.” (Source: Vrbo Help) |
What this means for you: Airbnb’s page lists no Duval-specific tourist tax line; that omission alone is not proof of noncollection. Vrbo’s named county list omits Duval, yet its scope says all Florida counties. Do not treat Duval collection as guaranteed. Verify each booking and follow the Duval guide. Both platforms leave uncollected taxes to you.
Airbnb and Vrbo
| Platform | When guests get details |
|---|---|
| Airbnb | “Guests will see your check-in method (such as smart lock, keypad, or lock box) but they won’t see the detailed check-in instructions until 48 hours before check-in.” (Source: Airbnb Help) |
| Vrbo | “The welcome guide information is emailed to your guests in the language you wrote it in, three days before check-in.” (Source: Vrbo Help) |
What this means for you: On Airbnb, detailed instructions appear 48 hours before check-in. On Vrbo, the welcome guide is emailed 3 days before check-in. Put the same local information in both.
How to Start
More City Guides
- Airbnb rules in Fernandina Beach, FL
- Airbnb rules in St. Augustine, FL
- Airbnb rules in New Smyrna Beach, FL
- Airbnb rules in Savannah, GA
- Florida short-term rental laws by city
Rules and rates last checked on 3 October 2026.
