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.
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)).
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_apRegister 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/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-taComply 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/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/| 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) |
Fee amounts change, the linked official schedule always controls.
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).