Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Petersburg, FL?

**No**, short-term rentals are prohibited in the majority of residential zones within St. Petersburg. Hosts in residential areas are limited to a maximum of three rental contracts per 12-month period, regardless of the length of each stay. Only commercially zoned properties may be eligible.

What is the TOT tax rate in St. Petersburg, FL?

**6% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in St. Petersburg. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. Always verify the current tax rate with the city's finance department before operating.

How many nights per year can I rent my property in St. Petersburg?

**Only three times** per year are you allowed to rent your property on a short-term basis in St. Petersburg's residential zones. This applies to stays under 30 days. Exceeding this limit can result in significant fines, so verify your zoning and usage carefully before listing.

Can renters host on Airbnb in St. Petersburg, FL?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host short-term rentals in St. Petersburg. The regulations focus on property owners, and tenants are not authorized to sublet their rentals as short-term rentals. Always check your lease agreement and local regulations before listing.

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in St. Petersburg?

**Significant fines** can be levied if you operate an illegal short-term rental in St. Petersburg. Operating in violation of the city's zoning laws and rental restrictions can lead to daily penalties. Always check with the St. Petersburg zoning office before operating your property.

St. Petersburg

Moderate

FloridaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals (less than 30 days) are PROHIBITED in the majority of St. Petersburg residential zones. Hosts in residential areas are limited to only three (3) rental contracts per 12-month period, regardless of the length of the stay.

Restriction level

Severity 25

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Long minimum stay: 30 nights
Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in St. Petersburg, you must first verify your property's zoning. If you are in a standard residential neighborhood, you are technically banned from renting for stays under 30 days more than three times a year. Operating more than three times per year in these zones can result in significant fines. Only properties in specific commercial or high-density districts (like Downtown) can operate as full-time short-term rentals.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The '3-per-year' rule: You can only rent your home 3 times per year if staying under 30 days.
2Zoning is binary: If you aren't in a 'Transient' allowed zone, there is no permit you can buy to bypass the rule.
3Pinellas County collects a 6% Tourist Development Tax on top of the 6% state tax.
4The city actively monitors Airbnb/VRBO for violation of the 3-rental cap.
5Rentals over 30 days are considered long-term and are not subject to these caps.
6ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are generally prohibited from being used as STRs.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

St. Petersburg prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (for transient use).
St. Petersburg: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
St. Petersburg: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements15 rules

St. Petersburg STR warning: HOA Bans: Even if the city allows it, your Homeowners Association can still legally ban short-term rentals.
St. Petersburg: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process9 rules

St. Petersburg STR permit - Step 2: Obtain State Licenses. Apply for a DBPR Vacation Rental License and a Florida Dept. of Revenue Sales Tax ID. Required documents: DBPR application. Time: 2-4 weeks. Cost: 170.
St. Petersburg STR permit - Step 4: Register for County Tourist Development Tax. Open a TDT account with the Pinellas County Tax Collector. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

St. Petersburg charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes4 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
St. Petersburg: Tax Collection: Airbnb doesn't collect the full 13%; you are likely responsible for the 1% local surtax yourself.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

St. Petersburg occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
St. Petersburg: Grandfathered Rules: St. Petersburg's rules are older than state laws that limit local control, making their restrictions harder to challenge.

Safety requirements1 rule

St. Petersburg requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Local contact person available 24/7, Proper egress as per Florida Building Code.

Penalties2 rules

St. Petersburg: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

St. Petersburg exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Rentals occurring only 3 times per 365-day period are not considered transient use and are exempt from frequency zoning bans..
St. Petersburg: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. Petersburg

0/1

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning

Confirm your property is in a zone that allows 'Transient Accommodation' (typically commercial or downtown). Residential zones are prohibited from STR use.

1 day

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

St. Petersburg

Moderate

FloridaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 25

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Long minimum stay: 30 nights
Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The '3-per-year' rule: You can only rent your home 3 times per year if staying under 30 days.
2Zoning is binary: If you aren't in a 'Transient' allowed zone, there is no permit you can buy to bypass the rule.
3Pinellas County collects a 6% Tourist Development Tax on top of the 6% state tax.
4The city actively monitors Airbnb/VRBO for violation of the 3-rental cap.
5Rentals over 30 days are considered long-term and are not subject to these caps.
6ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are generally prohibited from being used as STRs.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

St. Petersburg prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (for transient use).
St. Petersburg: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
St. Petersburg: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements15 rules

St. Petersburg STR warning: HOA Bans: Even if the city allows it, your Homeowners Association can still legally ban short-term rentals.
St. Petersburg: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process9 rules

St. Petersburg STR permit - Step 2: Obtain State Licenses. Apply for a DBPR Vacation Rental License and a Florida Dept. of Revenue Sales Tax ID. Required documents: DBPR application. Time: 2-4 weeks. Cost: 170.
St. Petersburg STR permit - Step 4: Register for County Tourist Development Tax. Open a TDT account with the Pinellas County Tax Collector. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

St. Petersburg charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes4 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
St. Petersburg: Tax Collection: Airbnb doesn't collect the full 13%; you are likely responsible for the 1% local surtax yourself.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

St. Petersburg occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
St. Petersburg: Grandfathered Rules: St. Petersburg's rules are older than state laws that limit local control, making their restrictions harder to challenge.

Safety requirements1 rule

St. Petersburg requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Local contact person available 24/7, Proper egress as per Florida Building Code.

Penalties2 rules

St. Petersburg: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

St. Petersburg exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Rentals occurring only 3 times per 365-day period are not considered transient use and are exempt from frequency zoning bans..
St. Petersburg: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. Petersburg

0/1

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning

Confirm your property is in a zone that allows 'Transient Accommodation' (typically commercial or downtown). Residential zones are prohibited from STR use.

1 day

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning

Frequently asked questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Petersburg, FL?

2What is the TOT tax rate in St. Petersburg, FL?

3How many nights per year can I rent my property in St. Petersburg?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in St. Petersburg, FL?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in St. Petersburg?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning

Frequently asked questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Petersburg, FL?

2What is the TOT tax rate in St. Petersburg, FL?

3How many nights per year can I rent my property in St. Petersburg?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in St. Petersburg, FL?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in St. Petersburg?

Disclaimer