Walton County orders registration or fines for multiple unlicensed short‑term rentals

A Walton County hearing officer on May 20, 2025 found owners of multiple unincorporated properties advertising short‑term vacation rentals in violation of the Walton County Land Development Code and ordered registrations or fines, county staff said.

The county required some owners to come into compliance within 48 hours (by May 23), gave others 30 days (to June 20) and granted one owner 45 days (to July 7). The hearing officer said properties that remain out of compliance after the deadline will face a $500 per day fine and a $100.62 administrative fee.

The finding and deadlines arose during a series of administrative hearings in which county manager Michael Lynch and Joshua Allen, the short‑term vacation rental coordinator in the planning department, presented evidence that advertised listings showed properties operating without the county certification required by Walton County Land Development Code 1.13.16(a). Lynch told the hearing officer, “All of the cases presented today involve properties in an unincorporated area of Walton County [that] are subject to land development code chapter 7 and other provisions of the land development code.”

Why this matters: the code requires a county short‑term vacation rental certificate and coordination with state and Tourist Development Council (TDC) registrations; enforcement affects owners who advertise rentals, county tax and regulatory compliance, and short‑term rental oversight in Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and other unincorporated areas.

Key orders and examples - Case CESTR2500044 (25 Misty Cove Unit 118, Miramar Beach) — the hearing officer found a violation of 1.13.16(a) and granted 30 days to comply (on or before June 20, 2025). The officer warned that “in the event the property is not brought into compliance on or before June 20, a $500 per day fine shall be imposed.” The county requested the 30‑day window because, staff said, the owner was awaiting Florida Department of Revenue registration.

- Case CESTR2500092 (36 Markham Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach; Michael and Heather Weigam) — staff recommended 30 days; after hearing the Weigams’ testimony the hearing officer extended the deadline to 45 days, setting compliance on or before July 7, 2025. The officer explained that if the property is not compliant after that date “a $500 per day fine will be imposed.”

- Several other properties were ordered to comply within 48 hours (on or before May 23, 2025) or face the $500/day fine. Those properties included (as listed in county evidence): 2590 E. County Highway 38 (Desert Retreat LLC), 59 Hidden Lakes Drive (Topekaic Investments LLC), 2472 Bungalow Lane (Amy Machado), 59 Redfish Circle (Daniel and Deborah Hill), 5022 W. County Highway 30A (Hollywood Redneck LLC) and 332 Cassine Garden Circle (Louis and Bezolda Mille). For each the hearing officer imposed the same fine structure and a $100.62 administrative fee payable within 30 days.

Evidence and county process County staff, represented by Joshua Allen, presented printouts from online rental listings and the county’s monitoring program (govOS) showing advertisements for short‑term stays. Allen said the listings were “originally identified in December of 2024, reverified prior to this hearing yesterday,” and that certified notices and subsequent mailings had been sent to owners. The hearing officer admitted the county’s evidence packets into the record with reservations in case an owner later objects.

Owners’ responses and assistance Some owners appeared and told the hearing officer they were actively working to complete registration steps. Michael Weigam said he had tried emailing and calling county staff and asked for help finalizing remaining items; the hearing officer and staff offered to meet after the hearing. The officer described a post‑deadline process by which the county files an affidavit of noncompliance and fines are assessed, and he explained that owners can apply for a fine reduction or waiver by demonstrating active efforts to comply.

Agencies referenced and compliance steps County presenters and the hearing officer referenced the Walton County Land Development Code (section 1.13.16(a)), Florida registration systems including the Florida Department of Revenue and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and the Tourist Development Council (TDC). Staff told the hearing that some accounts were registered but “not in good standing” with the TDC, or that Department of Revenue registration was pending and responsible for processing delays.

What comes next The hearing officer signed orders for each case documenting the findings, compliance windows, daily fines for noncompliance, and the $100.62 administrative fee that must be paid within 30 days of the order. County staff indicated they would assist property owners who come in to finalize remaining registration requirements; if owners do not meet the deadlines the county will file affidavits of noncompliance and the daily fines will begin to accrue until the properties are registered.

Ending note: the hearing record shows the county sent informational packets to new owners recorded since 2023 via the property appraiser’s office; those packets advise owners of the registration steps if they intend to operate as short‑term rentals.