Skip to main content
StartFL
Pinellas County
Brevard County16 municipalitiesBroward County31 municipalitiesDuval County / JacksonvilleJacksonville and 4 other municipalitiesHillsborough County3 municipalitiesLee CountySix incorporated municipalitiesMiami-Dade County34 municipalitiesOrange County13 municipalitiesPalm Beach County39 municipalitiesPasco CountyPermits, zoning, property records and local services across Pasco County.Pinellas County24 municipalities✓Polk County17 municipalitiesSarasota CountyPermits, zoning, property records and local services across Sarasota County.
Ask a question

Business Tax Receipt: City of Clearwater in Pinellas County

City of Clearwater

All businesses within Clearwater city limits must obtain a Business Tax Receipt before opening or practicing a profession. The program is administered by the Code Compliance Division under Chapter 29 of the city Code of Ordinances. The tax year runs October 1 to September 30 and renews annually regardless of when the BTR was obtained.

Check what applies to your address

Get a free answer for your location and project, rather than relying only on this general guide.

See the $19 Project Kit

Need everything organized? For eligible projects, the optional $19 Project Kit brings your filing steps, official documents, fees and progress checklist together. Government fees are separate.

Who needs this

Any business or professional operating from a location (including a home) inside Clearwater city limits.

Steps

  1. 1

    Confirm the address is in city limits and zoning allows the use

    Before applying, confirm the business type is permitted at the location (Zoning: 727-562-4604) and that the address is inside Clearwater city limits.

    myclearwater.com/Business-Development/Clearwater-Business-Re
  2. 2

    Apply online through the ePermitting portal

    Create an account at epermit.myclearwater.com (Accela Citizen Access), then from the blue navigation menu select New, then Business Tax Application.

    epermit.myclearwater.com
  3. 3

    Home-based businesses: add the affidavit

    A home-based business needs the BTR plus an additional Home Based Business Affidavit.

    myclearwater.com/Business-Development/Clearwater-Business-Re
  4. 4

    Pay and renew annually

    The BTR is not valid until paid. Payments and renewals are handled on the ePermitting portal (search your BTR number, then Payments, Pay Fees); no service charge; check, Visa, Mastercard, and Amex accepted. Contact: 727-562-4005, [email protected].

    epermit.myclearwater.com

Requirements

  • Location inside Clearwater city limits
  • Zoning confirmation for the business type
  • Home Based Business Affidavit for home businesses

Documents

  • State license copy where applicable

Fees

ItemAmountNotes
Clearwater BTRMinimum $25; retail by inventory value from $44.30; administrative office $95.20; professionals $127.50 per licensee; restaurants by seats $44.30 (1-10) to $280.30 (101+); $28 registration feeClearwater Code Appendix A Art. XXVII business tax schedule (accessed 2026-09-01)

Good to know

Clearwater no longer issues registrations (REG) for businesses located outside city limits that come in to do business. Most other Pinellas municipalities also levy their own business taxes; contact each city.