I was perusing the Walton County website for the STVR certification process and looking at the FAQs. You learn something new everyday.
Under question #35 - Can I rent out my carriage house as a vacation rental and live in the main house?
Response:
Walton County Code Appendix C, Chapter II, 2.02.00 (Zoning Districts Established) clearly states that Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) shall not be available for short-term vacation rentals. You could live in your ADU (Carriage House) and rent out your main dwelling without going through the certification process. However, all Federal, State, and County registrations, licenses and life safety requirements must be met with respect to your main dwelling.
www.co.walton.fl.us
It is against Walton County code to rent out a carriage house as a short term vacation rental. Walton County's definition of short term vacation rental:
Short-term Vacation Rental: A public lodging establishment consisting of any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within a single complex of buildings, which is rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, or which is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests. The following are excluded from this definition:
1. Any dormitory or other living or sleeping facility maintained by a public or private school, college, or university for the use of students, faculty, or visitors.
2. Any hospital, nursing home, sanitarium, assisted living facility, or other similar place. 3. Any unit or group of units in a condominium, cooperative, or timeshare plan.
4. Group homes as defined in Chapter 419, F.S.