Tampa Bay Short-Term Rental Rules by City and County (2026)

Thinking about buying a home or condo in Tampa Bay to rent on Airbnb or VRBO? Start with the city, not the listing. Florida sets the base rules, but each city and county decides where short-term rentals are allowed, and some say "not here" or "not for less than 90 days." I pulled the rules below from state statutes and each city's or county's own pages so you can check a property before you write an offer.

In this guide, a short-term rental means a home rented more than three times a year for stays under 30 days. That's how Florida law defines it. Click your city on the map or jump to its section below.

Quick-start checklist

1. Check the zoning. Look up the parcel's zoning district and confirm short-term rentals are allowed there. Some cities don't allow them in single-family zones.
2. Check the HOA or condo documents. An association can be stricter than the city. Read the declaration, bylaws and rules before you buy.
3. Get the state license. Apply to Florida DBPR for a vacation rental license (Condo or Dwelling).
4. Register for taxes. Register with the Florida Department of Revenue for sales tax, and with the county for tourist development tax.
5. Register locally. Get the city or county registration, certificate or business tax receipt, and pass any required inspection before you advertise.
6. Set your house rules. Occupancy, parking, trash, noise and the posted information should match the local code; confirm the requirements with the city or county.
7. Re-check every year. Fees, renewals and ordinances can change.

This checklist is general information, not legal advice. Rules depend on the parcel and can change, so confirm with the city or county and a Florida attorney before you buy or rent.

Florida state rules

What counts as a vacation rental. Under section 509.242(1)(c), Florida Statutes, a vacation rental is a condo or co-op unit, or a one- to four-family house, that is also a "transient public lodging establishment" and isn't a timeshare. Section 509.013 defines a transient public lodging establishment as one rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 consecutive days, or advertised or held out as regularly rented for less than 30 consecutive days.

What cities can and can't do. Section 509.032(7)(b) says a local law "may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals." That limit doesn't apply to local rules adopted on or before June 1, 2011. This is why some beach towns still enforce 30-day, 90-day or three-month minimums: those rules predate June 1, 2011. Cities can still require registration, inspections for Building Code and Fire Code compliance, occupancy and parking standards, and penalties.

State license. Section 509.241 requires a license from DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants before you operate. Operating without one is a misdemeanor of the second degree. DBPR offers a Vacation Rental (Condo) license and a Vacation Rental (Dwelling) license.

Recent law changes. In 2024, the Legislature passed SB 280, which would have added statewide vacation rental registration rules, but the Governor vetoed it on June 27, 2024. In 2025, SB 606 (Chapter 2025-113, effective July 1, 2025) changed parts of Chapter 509, including the lodging definitions in section 509.013. The transient definition now uses "30 consecutive days." It didn't change the June 1, 2011 date in section 509.032(7)(b). In 2026, the vacation rental bills I checked (including SB 608, HB 79, SB 1394 and SB 1666) did not pass. Florida law currently keeps the June 1, 2011 grandfather date.

Taxes. Rentals of six months or less are taxable. You collect Florida's 6% state sales tax plus any county discretionary sales surtax and send it to the Florida Department of Revenue. You register with DOR using Form DR-1. You also collect the county's tourist development tax and pay it to the county. Register with the county's tourist tax office (the Tax Collector in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee, and the Clerk in Hernando). Per DOR Form DR-15TDT (revised 10/26), the tourist development tax rate is 6% in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee and 5% in Pasco and Hernando, and each of those counties collects it locally. Check what your booking platform collects in your county before you assume you're covered.

Hillsborough County (unincorporated)

• Registration: The county says the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 26-40 on September 2, 2026, and that it takes effect January 1, 2027, for unincorporated Hillsborough only. The county's announcement says registration is $200 per unit per year. We couldn't confirm these details in the ordinance text, so check with the county.
• Minimum stay: Not found in the county's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the county.
• Occupancy and parking: Not confirmed from the adopted ordinance text as of November 3, 2026. Check with the county.
• Inspections: The county says owners must allow an inspection when Code Enforcement decides one is needed, and that the Board sets a no-show fee.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% tourist development tax to Hillsborough County, plus state sales tax to DOR. Penalties: check the ordinance once it's codified. The county says the Board plans to review the ordinance 90 days after it takes effect.

Tampa

• Registration: No city short-term rental registration program was found as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Minimum stay: In a 2022 decision (Super Host, LLC v. City of Tampa, 13th Judicial Circuit appellate division, Case No. 20-CA-5743), the court upheld a code violation for a two-night rental of a South Tampa home zoned RS-60. It read Tampa's code to allow rentals there only on a weekly or longer basis, and it found that short-term rentals aren't a listed use in that zone. The ruling covered one property and one zoning district, and the code may have changed since. We couldn't confirm the city's current rules, so check with Tampa Planning and Zoning before you buy.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Hillsborough tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. We couldn't confirm whether a city business tax receipt applies, so check with the city.

Temple Terrace

• Registration: Register through the city's Short-Term Rental Portal and keep a Certificate of Use, renewed every year. A 24/7 local responsible party is required.
• Minimum stay: No city minimum found as of November 3, 2026. The program covers rentals of less than 30 days, more than three times a year.
• Occupancy: Two people per bedroom plus two.
• Parking: All parking must be off-street (City Code 8-140(h)(4)): the minimum spaces for the home plus one more. No lawn or street parking.
• Inspections: A Fire Department life-safety inspection before the Certificate of Use, repeated every two years.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Hillsborough tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. Ads must show the registration information, the occupancy limit and the parking rules. The city enforces through code compliance.

Plant City

• Registration: The city says it doesn't require rental registration, but every rental unit pays a city Business Tax.
• Minimum stay, occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Hillsborough tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Pinellas County (unincorporated)

• Registration: A Certificate of Use is required for each unit rented more than three times a year for stays under 30 days (Ordinance 25-15). It costs $450: $250 when you apply and $200 after you pass inspection. Renewal is $450 a year. Renting rooms in a home you live in doesn't need one.
• Minimum stay: Not found in the county's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the county.
• Occupancy: Two guests per bedroom plus two in one common area, up to 10. All ages count.
• Parking: One off-street space per three guests, rounded up. Lawn parking doesn't count. Spaces must be 8 by 18 feet.
• Inspections: $150 initial inspection, $100 re-inspection, and an inspection every two years.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% tourist development tax to the Pinellas County Tax Collector, plus state sales tax to DOR. Ordinance 25-15 allows daily fines for violations. We couldn't confirm the amounts or the effective date, so check with the county. Sheds, RVs, tents and unmodified containers can't be used as rental sleeping space.

St. Petersburg

• Registration: No city short-term rental permit. Homes used as ongoing lodging have to be set up as a licensed hotel or motel use or sit in a zone that allows it.
• Minimum stay: The city's 2023 planning handout says a home in a residential zone can be rented for less than 30 days no more than three times in any 365 consecutive days. We couldn't confirm it's still current, so check with the city. More than that requires the right zoning, such as a Resort Facilities Overlay.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. Penalties: check with the city.

Clearwater

• Registration: A city Business Tax Receipt is required for rentals.
• Minimum stay: The city's ADU page says rentals in residential zoning districts can't be shorter than 31 days or one calendar month. We couldn't confirm the rules for tourist-zoned areas, so check the parcel's zoning with the city.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Largo

• Registration: Follow Comprehensive Development Code Section 15.18, designate a 24/7 responsible party (age 18 or older), and post the required guest information inside.
• Minimum stay: No city minimum found as of November 3, 2026. The rules apply to homes up to four units rented more than three times a year for 30 days or less.
• Occupancy: One guest per 150 square feet of air-conditioned living space.
• Parking: One off-street space per three guests. An open garage can count.
• Inspections: A Community Standards compliance inspection, then a Fire Department life-safety inspection, before you rent. The annual high-hazard fire inspection costs $100.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. Penalties: check with the city.

Dunedin

• Registration: If the zoning allows it, apply for a city short-term vacation rental registration.
• Minimum stay: Dunedin treats any stay under 90 days or three calendar months as transient, and doesn't allow transient use in residential zoning districts. Check the city's Transient Uses by Zoning District table.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. The city sends notices of violation to rentals advertised in prohibited zones.

Tarpon Springs

• Registration: Zoning approval comes first. Some districts need a conditional use public hearing.
• Minimum stay: Short-term rentals ("tourist homes," rented for six weeks or less) are allowed by right only in the Resort Residential district, and by conditional use in some multifamily and office districts. Tourist homes must be detached single-family homes at least 1,200 feet from another approved tourist home. In SmartCode areas, by right only in T4c. Elsewhere, rentals must be longer than six weeks.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Treasure Island

• Registration: A local business tax receipt plus the DBPR license.
• Minimum stay: "Tourist dwellings" aren't allowed in the RU-75 or RM-15 districts. The city presumes a home is a tourist dwelling if it's advertised for rent there, or has more than two changes of occupancy in 12 months in RU-75 (more than five in RM-15). Tourist dwellings are allowed in CG, RFM-30, RFH-50 and PR-MU.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

St. Pete Beach

• Registration: No short-term rental permit. Ongoing transient lodging uses need a business tax license reviewed by Zoning and the Fire Marshal.
• Minimum stay: Stays under 30 days are allowed up to three times per 12 months only in the RM district and the Pass-A-Grille Overlay. Most single-family zones don't allow them. Rentals of one month or more are allowed in all residences.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. Each rental in violation is a separate offense, fines go up for repeat violations, and unpaid fines can become liens.

Madeira Beach

• Registration: A city Business Tax Receipt (City Code Chapter 62), with the owner as licensee and a local contact such as a property manager.
• Minimum stay: Depends on zoning. Use the city's Zoning and Rental Restrictions map.
• Occupancy and parking: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Inspections: An annual fire inspection for every short-term vacation rental.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Indian Rocks Beach

• Registration: An annual Vacation Rental Registration under Ordinance 2023-02. Starting October 1, 2026, it's $600 per unit plus a $26.25 business tax receipt for new registrations ($10.50 at renewal), with a $200 late fee. Owner-occupied rentals can file for an exemption.
• Minimum stay: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Occupancy and parking: The application needs a parking plan and floor plan. Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Inspections: City Code Enforcement and Pinellas Suncoast Fire Rescue. $150 inspection, $75 re-inspection.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. The city publishes a monthly registry and code enforcement report.

Redington Beach

• Registration: All short-term rentals in the single-family district must register with the town before being offered for rent. The town posts a public registry with each responsible party.
• Minimum stay, occupancy and parking: Not found in the town's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the town.
• Inspections: A preliminary inspection and fire safety requirements are part of registration.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

North Redington Beach

• Minimum stay: The town says all residential zoning districts have a 90-day minimum rental.
• Registration, occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the town's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the town.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Redington Shores

• Registration: A Certificate of Use application and Vacation Rental Standards apply.
• Minimum stay: Under the town's code, rentals shorter than one month count as transient in the RM-15 and RD-15 districts, and rentals shorter than 181 consecutive days count as transient in RS-7 and RS-10.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: See the town's Vacation Rental Standards. Not confirmed as of November 3, 2026. Check with the town.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Belleair Beach

• Registration: Rentals in Residential Medium I and Residential Low II must register every year, with a local agent. The 2026 fee is $300, due by December 31. Paying after January 31 adds $100.
• Minimum stay: City Code Section 94-213: single-family homes in residential low can't be leased for less than three months.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Indian Shores

• Registration and minimum stay: The town's online FAQ says the town doesn't have rental restrictions and points owners to their condo association, but that FAQ may be out of date. We couldn't confirm the current town code, so check with the Indian Shores Building Department before you buy.
• Occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the town's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the town.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Pinellas tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Kenneth City, Gulfport and other Pinellas cities

Gulfport: Whether a short-term rental is allowed depends on the zoning district. Some districts allow it by right, some need conditional approval, and some don't allow it. The city's map is a guide, and city staff make the final call. Kenneth City, Belleair Bluffs, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor and South Pasadena: I didn't find short-term rental rules on these cities' official pages as of November 3, 2026. Check zoning and any minimum lease with the city before you buy. In all of them, you pay the 6% Pinellas tourist development tax plus state sales tax to DOR.

Pasco County (unincorporated)

• Registration, minimum stay, occupancy, parking and inspections: Not confirmed from the county's Land Development Code as of November 3, 2026. Check with Pasco Planning and Development.
• Taxes and penalties: 5% tourist development tax to the Pasco County Tax Collector, plus state sales tax to DOR.

New Port Richey

• All rules: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city. Confirm zoning with the Planning Division.
• Taxes: 5% Pasco tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Dade City

• All rules: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes: 5% Pasco tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Zephyrhills

• All rules: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes: 5% Pasco tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR.

Manatee County (unincorporated)

• Registration and local rules: As of the September 2, 2026 work session, the county had no short-term rental ordinance. On June 16, 2026, the Board directed staff to bring one back. We couldn't confirm whether anything was adopted after that, so check with the county.
• Minimum stay, occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the county's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the county.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% tourist development tax to the Manatee County Tax Collector, plus state sales tax to DOR. The Manatee County Tax Collector says it has no agreement with Airbnb, VRBO or other platforms, so owners collect and remit the 6% themselves.

Bradenton

• Registration: A Certificate of Registration for each short-term vacation rental (Ordinance 3093, amended by Ordinances 4001 and 4011, which also brought in condos with three or more units). You need the DBPR license, DOR certificate and a designated responsible party. The city won't issue a certificate while there are unpaid code liens.
• Minimum stay: No city minimum found as of November 3, 2026.
• Occupancy and parking: Not confirmed from the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Inspections: The city schedules an inspection once the application is complete.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Manatee tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. The Manatee County Tax Collector says it has no agreement with Airbnb, VRBO or other platforms, so owners collect and remit the 6% themselves.

Anna Maria

• Registration: A Vacation Rental Registration under City Code Chapter 108, renewed before it expires. You need the DBPR license, DOR certificate, Manatee County Tax Collector account, a site sketch showing each off-street parking space, and a floor plan.
• Minimum stay: Not found in the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Occupancy and parking: Set in Chapter 108. Confirm the limits for your unit with the city.
• Inspections: New registrations can't advertise or rent until they pass inspection. Renewals are inspected during the renewal period.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Manatee tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. The Manatee County Tax Collector says it has no agreement with Airbnb, VRBO or other platforms, so owners collect and remit the 6% themselves.

Holmes Beach

• Registration: A Vacation Rental Certificate. It's $780 initially, including inspections, and $780 to renew every two years. Re-inspections are $50 and $75.
• Minimum stay: R-1 and R-1AA: at least 30 consecutive days, no more than once in any 30-day period. R-2, R-3 and R-4: at least seven consecutive days. A-1: daily.
• Occupancy and parking: Not confirmed from the city's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Inspections: Safety checks include smoke and CO detectors, a working phone, and no living space below base flood elevation. There's also an annual fire inspection.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Manatee tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. The Manatee County Tax Collector says it has no agreement with Airbnb, VRBO or other platforms, so owners collect and remit the 6% themselves. Noise fines run from $75 to $750 for repeat violations.

Bradenton Beach

• Registration: Not confirmed from the city's adopted code as of November 3, 2026. City agendas show the city was considering amendments in 2026. Check with the city, and get the DBPR license.
• Minimum stay, occupancy, parking and inspections: Not confirmed from the city's adopted code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the city.
• Taxes and penalties: 6% Manatee tourist development tax, plus state sales tax to DOR. The Manatee County Tax Collector says it has no agreement with Airbnb, VRBO or other platforms, so owners collect and remit the 6% themselves.

Hernando County

• Registration: We didn't find a county short-term rental ordinance as of November 3, 2026. County records show that in 2026 the Board moved away from a proposed ordinance and asked staff to redraft around DBPR's state standards. We couldn't confirm the final outcome, so check with the county. You still need the DBPR license and must register with the Clerk for tourist tax.
• Minimum stay, occupancy, parking and inspections: Not found in the county's code as of November 3, 2026. Check with the county.
• Taxes and penalties: 5% tourist development tax to the Hernando County Clerk, reported monthly even with no rentals, and due by the 20th. The Clerk says Airbnb and VRBO collect it for bookings on those platforms, but you still register and report. Late filing loses the collection allowance and adds penalties and interest.

HOA and condo rules can be stricter

A city can allow short-term rentals while your association bans them. Condo associations operate under Chapter 718, Florida Statutes, and HOAs under Chapter 720. Their declarations can set minimum lease terms, limits on how many times a year you can lease, approval steps and fees. Before you buy, read the declaration, the amendments and the current rules, and confirm the zoning. If the property is a must-rent investment, I build that check into the offer timeline. You can browse homes for sale or book a consultation.

Florida short-term rental FAQ

Can a Florida city ban Airbnb rentals?

Generally, a new local rule can't ban them outright. Section 509.032(7)(b), Florida Statutes, says a local law may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate how long or how often they're rented, but that limit doesn't apply to local rules adopted on or before June 1, 2011. Cities can still set other rules, like registration and occupancy. Confirm with the city and a Florida attorney.

Do I need a state license for a short-term rental in Florida?

Yes. If you rent more than three times a year for stays under 30 days, you need a DBPR vacation rental license (Condo or Dwelling) before you operate. Running without one is a second-degree misdemeanor under section 509.241.

What taxes do I collect on a vacation rental in Tampa Bay?

Florida's 6% sales tax plus any county surtax, paid to DOR, and the county tourist development tax: 6% in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee, and 5% in Pasco and Hernando, per DOR Form DR-15TDT. Check what your booking platform already collects.

Can I do short-term rentals in Tampa?

A 2022 circuit court appellate decision upheld a violation for a two-night rental of a Tampa home zoned RS-60, reading the city code to require weekly or longer rentals there. Rules in other zones may differ, and the code can change. We couldn't confirm the city's current rules, so check the parcel's zoning with the city and a Florida attorney before you buy.

Can my condo or HOA ban short-term rentals?

Often, yes. Condo and HOA documents can set minimum lease terms and rental limits. Florida law limits who some newer rental amendments apply to, often owners who agreed and buyers who take title afterward (s. 718.110(13), s. 720.306(1)(h)). Read the declaration and rules, and confirm with the association and a Florida attorney before you offer.

Does unincorporated Hillsborough County require STR registration?

The county says yes, starting January 1, 2027. Its announcement says Ordinance 26-40 requires a $200 annual registration per unit in unincorporated Hillsborough and lets Code Enforcement require inspections. Cities like Tampa and Temple Terrace set their own rules.

Last verified: November 2026, from city, county and state sources.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm with the city or county, a Florida attorney and a tax professional before you buy or rent.

Jonathan Loescher, Realtor with Realty of America (SL3546365)

Real estate services are offered through Realty of America. Equal Housing Opportunity.