Panama City Beach increases penalties for short-term rental violations

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – The Panama City Beach City Commission unanimously passed an ordinance Thursday that changes when landlords, who rent out their properties as short-term vacation homes, are fined for violations.

Significantly, the revisions remove warnings for property owners who are in violation of the regulations. Instead, they are initially subjected to immediate fines that progressively grow, according to council member’s during the meeting.

A $500 fine is distributed on the first violation and a $1,000 fine on the second. If a third violation is recorded within a year, the individual’s rental property license is revoked and they are required to pay an additional $1,000.

“99% of people are doing the right thing,” Mayor Mark Sheldon said. ”And our team spends too much time on the 1%.”

Previously, the city would provide a warning to the violator, followed by a $250 fine, $500 fine, $1,000 fine and finally a revocation of their license if they continued to violate the regulations.

“This is the warning,” Sheldon said. “Everyone knows what’s out there now. I’m not a big fan of more warnings.”

He added that people should be held accountable, regardless of what they are doing.

“If people can’t do the right thing than I don’t think we should give them a bunch of warnings,” he said.

“It really enforces best practices,” Council Member Michael Jarman said. “And those best practices are what’s going to keep visitors safe. People that live here, these short-term rentals safe.”

The amended ordinance will go into affect on Feb. 1, 2024.