Where short-term rentals are allowed in Clearwater, FL

What Clearwater asks of you

• A residential use of residentially zoned property excludes rentals of less than 31 days or one calendar month. The shorter of the two periods applies.^[8]

• A home advertised or held out to the public for such stays is excluded in the same way, so the listing itself breaks the rule.^[8]

• Section 3-919 lists what proves a short rental in a residential district. State registration under Chapters 212 or 509 is enough, as is advertising the unit for vacation rental use.^[7]

• Bookings that overlap any period under 31 days count as well. So does the use of an agent to take reservations.^[7]

• Section 3-919 comes from Ordinance 7105-03 of April 17, 2003, amended on June 4, 2009. Both dates fall before the June 1, 2011 cutoff in the state preemption.^[7]

• In the Tourist (T) district, a resort attached dwelling may be offered or advertised for any term.^[8]

• A Business Tax Receipt is required for the rental of any dwelling unit in the city, under Community Development Code Sections 3-2301 to 3-2303.^[6]

• A local contact goes on the application, with a working local phone number and a street address, not a post office box. Both must be in Pinellas County or one of four other counties the code names.^[6]

What Florida asks wherever you host

These rules apply at this address whatever the city decides.

• Florida licenses vacation rentals itself. A dwelling license covers houses, townhouses and buildings of up to four units. A condominium or cooperative unit takes a condominium license instead. The license costs $150 plus $10 per rental unit, plus a $10 hospitality education fee.^[2]

• No Florida city may ban vacation rentals. It may not set how long or how often you rent either. The one exception is a local ordinance already in force on June 1, 2011, which still applies.^[1]

• State sales tax is due on every rental of six months or less. A bona fide written lease for more than six months of continuous residence is exempt. So is the seventh month onward once a guest has stayed and paid for six.^[3]