Short-Term / Vacation Rental in Pinellas County
Operating a vacation rental in Pinellas County involves up to four layers: a state DBPR vacation rental license, state and county tax registrations (6% sales tax + 1% surtax to DOR, 6% Tourist Development Tax to the Pinellas Tax Collector), and city- or county-level rules that vary sharply by location. State law (FS 509.032(7)(b)) bars local governments from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating duration/frequency, except ordinances adopted on or before June 1, 2011.
Who needs this
Owners or managers renting whole homes/condos to guests more than three times a calendar year for stays under 30 days, or advertising the property as regularly rented (FS 509.013(4)(a)1, FS 509.242(1)(c)).
Steps
- 1
Get the DBPR vacation rental license
Apply online or with form DBPR HR-7028. License types: single (one house/units in one building, owner-applied), group (licensed agent, one building/complex), collective (licensed agent, up to 75 units across locations). Fee varies by number of units (Rule 61C-1.008 FAC) plus a one-time $50 processing fee; use DBPR's lodging fee calculator.
www2.myfloridalicense.com/hr/forms/documents/dbpr_hr_7028_ap - 2
Register for state taxes
Register with the Florida Department of Revenue and collect 6 percent state sales tax plus the 1 percent Pinellas discretionary surtax on rentals of six months or less, remitted on Form DR-15.
floridarevenue.com/taxes/registration/ - 3
Register for the Pinellas Tourist Development Tax
Register a TD account with the Pinellas County Tax Collector (email [email protected]) and remit the 6 percent TDT on stays of six months or less. Airbnb (since Dec 1, 2015) and HomeAway/VRBO (since Oct 1, 2018) collect Pinellas TDT for bookings on their platforms, but the owner remains liable if a platform does not collect.
pinellastaxcollector.gov/property-tax/tourist-development-ta - 4
Comply with your city or county program
Unincorporated Pinellas: STRs need a county Certificate of Use ($450 initial: $250 at application + $200 after passed inspection; $150 initial inspection; annual renewal; occupancy caps of 2 guests/bedroom + 2 common, max 10). Indian Rocks Beach: annual vacation rental registration (Ord. 2023-02). Madeira Beach: city registration and Certificate of Compliance with a designated responsible party. St. Petersburg: residential properties may rent under-30-day stays a maximum of 3 times per 365 days unless licensed hotel/motel or in a Resort Facilities Overlay. St. Pete Beach: under-30-day rentals only in the RM zone and Pass-A-Grille Overlay, up to 3 times per 12 months (no registration program as of Aug 2026). Clearwater: rentals under 31 days are not allowed in residential districts; all residential rentals need a city BTR. Treasure Island: city local business tax plus zoning occupancy-change limits.
pinellas.gov/str/ - 5
Meet safety and posting requirements
DBPR licensing carries lodging safety obligations (e.g., smoke alarms, balcony inspections where applicable). City programs typically add inspections, insurance proof, and local contact requirements.
www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/
Requirements
- DBPR vacation rental license before advertising/renting
- DOR sales tax + surtax account
- Pinellas Tax Collector TDT account
- City registration/Certificate of Use where the program exists
Documents
- Form DBPR HR-7028
- Proof of ownership or management agreement
- City registration forms where applicable
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DBPR processing fee | $50.00 | License fee itself varies by unit count (Rule 61C-1.008 FAC) |
| Pinellas County STR Certificate of Use (unincorporated) | $450.00 initial | $250 at application + $200 after passed inspection; $150 initial inspection; $100 re-inspection; annual renewal; safety re-inspection every 2 years |
| Taxes on each stay of 6 months or less | 13% total | 6% state sales tax + 1% Pinellas surtax (to DOR) + 6% Pinellas TDT (to Tax Collector) |
Good to know
SB 280 (2024), which would have created a statewide registry, was VETOED on June 27, 2024 and is not law. Madeira Beach registration details come from Ordinance 2015-13; confirm current codification with the city before relying on the R-1/R-2 definitions. St. Pete Beach commissioners declined to adopt a registration program in August 2026 (secondary sources).