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Clearwater vs. St. Petersburg: short-term-rental rules
Both are in Florida, but the rules differ. St. Petersburg is currently the more permissive of the two for short-term rentals (Restricted), while Clearwater is tighter (Mostly prohibited).
| Rule | Clearwater | St. Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| STR status | Mostly prohibited | Restricted |
| City license / registration | City of Clearwater Business Tax Receipt (residential rental) | St. Petersburg Local Business Tax Receipt |
| Primary residence | Not specified | Not specified |
| Minimum stay | 31-night minimum | No set minimum |
| Lodging tax | ~13.0% total | ~13.0% total |
| Enforcement | Active | Active |
For most hosts, St. Petersburg is the easier of the two to operate in today, but confirm the specifics — rules change, and the "Mostly prohibited" status in Clearwater may still allow rentals under the right conditions. Open each full record for the cited, dated details.
Full Clearwater rules Full St. Petersburg rules
Frequently asked questions
Is short-term renting easier in Clearwater or St. Petersburg?
St. Petersburg is currently the more permissive (Restricted) versus Clearwater (Mostly prohibited). Verify against each city's full record, since rules change.
Do both Clearwater and St. Petersburg require a license or registration?
Clearwater: yes — City of Clearwater Business Tax Receipt (residential rental). St. Petersburg: yes — St. Petersburg Local Business Tax Receipt.
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.