Tampa/ Hillsborough County STR restrictions

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Tampa/ Hillsborough County STR restrictions

Ankur Ba
Member since 2022 · 3 posts · 1 vote

Hi folks - looking into investment properties in the Tampa area for short-term rental (AirBnB) purpose. I am aware Hillsborough county is more liberal towards 7 days or less STRs but wanted to double check if anyone is aware of any zoning restrictions in specific neighborhoods in the city? Checking into city/ county websites. And will call their offices in AM too. Thanks. 

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J-Ryan Stewart
Specialist · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 36 posts · 30 votes
3y
Quote from @Luke Rorech:

@Ankur Ba As you said, Hillsborough is technically a 7 day minimum but not really enforced all to much. Another BP member, @Kristina Kuba, informed me that inside city limits of Tampa, there is nothing in the muni code restricting less than 7 day stays and I was able to confirm that. 

Some municipalities in Pinellas County are a bit more stringent on STR rules even though the county itself allows nightly rentals.

Make sure you check to see if property is in HOA or deed restricted communities as those can cause troubles.


 I've dealt with Hillsborough County on this issue, I've even gotten legal counsel on it. They're literally redefining all STRs as "hotels" to get that 7-day minimum rule. The problem is they're not using the whole definition, which is "rented for 7 days or fewer *and having 10 or more bedrooms." 

The word "and" is carrying a lot more weight in this definition than they want to acknowledge. The obscure location of this statute is also a reason you get a different answer on STR from everyone in code enforcement.

On paper this reading of the reg is unenforceable but if you have a neighbor problem & the city comes after you using this post hoc application of an old law having nothing to do with STR - someone eventually has to pony up the cash to fight the city. 

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  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Ankur Ba:

    Hi folks - looking into investment properties in the Tampa area for short-term rental (AirBnB) purpose. I am aware Hillsborough county is more liberal towards 7 days or less STRs but wanted to double check if anyone is aware of any zoning restrictions in specific neighborhoods in the city? Checking into city/ county websites. And will call their offices in AM too. Thanks. 


     Sounds like you are already on track.by checking with the city/county. This is the  most reliable information. 

    2Reply
  • Nick Velez
    Lender · Member since 2019 · 250 posts · 219 votes
    4y

    @Josh Green

    Josh could likely point you in the right direction here!

    1Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y

    @Ankur Ba

    We manage around 20-25 or so in Hillsborough and more in other counties.  We rent nightly in both county and city and have never had an issue.  Their legal right to even restrict post 2011 agreement between state and counties would be a gray area and I have never heard of anyone being cited.  Some of the older laws on the books in beach towns of Pinellas are a different story.

    Shoot me a DM if you have any other questions I would love to help

    Andrew Steffens

    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Luke Rorech
    Real Estate Agent · Greater Tampa Bay · Member since 2017 · 392 posts · 290 votes
    3y

    @Ankur Ba As you said, Hillsborough is technically a 7 day minimum but not really enforced all to much. Another BP member, @Kristina Kuba, informed me that inside city limits of Tampa, there is nothing in the muni code restricting less than 7 day stays and I was able to confirm that. 

    Some municipalities in Pinellas County are a bit more stringent on STR rules even though the county itself allows nightly rentals.

    Make sure you check to see if property is in HOA or deed restricted communities as those can cause troubles.

    1Reply
  • Lucie Tighe
    Property Manager · Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 147 posts · 66 votes
    3y

    @Ankur Ba reach out if there's still need for more information as far as zoning ordinance. I'd be happy to help.

    1Reply
  • J-Ryan Stewart
    Specialist · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 36 posts · 30 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Luke Rorech:

    @Ankur Ba As you said, Hillsborough is technically a 7 day minimum but not really enforced all to much. Another BP member, @Kristina Kuba, informed me that inside city limits of Tampa, there is nothing in the muni code restricting less than 7 day stays and I was able to confirm that. 

    Some municipalities in Pinellas County are a bit more stringent on STR rules even though the county itself allows nightly rentals.

    Make sure you check to see if property is in HOA or deed restricted communities as those can cause troubles.


     I've dealt with Hillsborough County on this issue, I've even gotten legal counsel on it. They're literally redefining all STRs as "hotels" to get that 7-day minimum rule. The problem is they're not using the whole definition, which is "rented for 7 days or fewer *and having 10 or more bedrooms." 

    The word "and" is carrying a lot more weight in this definition than they want to acknowledge. The obscure location of this statute is also a reason you get a different answer on STR from everyone in code enforcement.

    On paper this reading of the reg is unenforceable but if you have a neighbor problem & the city comes after you using this post hoc application of an old law having nothing to do with STR - someone eventually has to pony up the cash to fight the city. 

    4Reply
  • Luke Rorech
    Real Estate Agent · Greater Tampa Bay · Member since 2017 · 392 posts · 290 votes
    3y

    @J-Ryan Stewart Do you mind going in a bit more on that? Are you saying if neighbors complain then anything under 7 days can become an issue in Hillsborough county outside of Tampa city limits or inside city limits as well?

    Thanks. 

    And you're right, anytime I've gotten a different answer from multiple people in code enforcement on this topic. 

    0Reply
  • J-Ryan Stewart
    Specialist · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 36 posts · 30 votes
    3y

    I'm basically saying the city doesn't have the personnel to go after anyone unless there's a complaint, then when they do they're citing a statute that flatly doesn't say 7 days is the minimum unless you ignore (they do) the fact that language only appears once in the code which is in the definition of a hotel in neighborhood limits. 

    So they say "technically 7 days is the law" but you don't have to be a lawyer to see they're pencil-whipping an old statute about something else and applying just a select line of that to STR, which was not the intention of that reg. They don't even tell their enforcement employees which statute they're using. It took me three different reps on two trips to the code office just to get someone to show me. They didn't understand my issue with using half a definition.. so there's a lot of brick-walling in those offices. They get memos & act on them; they get complaints & they get guidance on what to do, but they don't want to show us the statute because they know it doesn't say what they want it to say.

    Now 7 days is the law in St Pete city limits. Restrictions vary wildly on the St Pete side of the Bay

    2Reply
  • Vase Bari
    Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    2y
    Quote from @J-Ryan Stewart:

    I'm basically saying the city doesn't have the personnel to go after anyone unless there's a complaint, then when they do they're citing a statute that flatly doesn't say 7 days is the minimum unless you ignore (they do) the fact that language only appears once in the code which is in the definition of a hotel in neighborhood limits. 

    So they say "technically 7 days is the law" but you don't have to be a lawyer to see they're pencil-whipping an old statute about something else and applying just a select line of that to STR, which was not the intention of that reg. They don't even tell their enforcement employees which statute they're using. It took me three different reps on two trips to the code office just to get someone to show me. They didn't understand my issue with using half a definition.. so there's a lot of brick-walling in those offices. They get memos & act on them; they get complaints & they get guidance on what to do, but they don't want to show us the statute because they know it doesn't say what they want it to say.

    Now 7 days is the law in St Pete city limits. Restrictions vary wildly on the St Pete side of the Bay


     Hi Ryan,

    Wondering if you've gotten any more clarification over the past year specifically within Tampa City limits. Thanks!

    0Reply
  • Parker Place
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2024 · 8 posts · 8 votes
    2y

    Hi Ankur, I'd monitor the progress of SB-280 which should override local regulations with a state-wide airbnb registration system. It's designed to bypass local regulations if it's not vetoed by Desantis. I can't guarantee city/county bureaucracy won't try to fight it though...


    0Reply
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