STR in St Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Florida
Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
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STR in St Petersburg

Quinn Stewart
Member since 2023 · 4 posts · 2 votes

Hi BP Fam,

I am a new real estate investor looking to expand outside my current city, Daytona Beach. I am looking at St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. However, it looks like most rentals have to be more than 30 days in St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. Are there any areas within these 3 cities that allow 7 days or more? If not, I am curious how the MTR business is as far as occupancy rate goes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Patricia Steiner
Real Estate Broker · Hyde Park Tampa, FL · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y

The issue is this: Florida's hotel lobby. It's one of the strongest in the nation and it keeps the STR zoning restrictive. Even markets that have been open to STR are now reassessing due to issues that have arisen from neighboring properties. Having said that, my clients and I love the vacation rental business and invest heavily in it - but we only do it in markets where it is legal. The risk of going 'underground' is simply not worth what happens if 'discovered.' Much of Tampa Bay is in a severe housing crisis and opportunities are emerging that are investor-friendly and even allow for a single parcel to be developed up to 4 units to bulk up housing. It may be worth exploring these newer opportunities which are nothing less than a lifetime opportunity to expotentially grow your empire. Hope this helps...

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

    @Quinn Stewart

    Hi Quinn! I am a broker and owner of a PM company. There are plenty of opportunities, you just have to know where to look and know where its legal :)

    I’ll send you a DM so we can talk further if you’d like!

    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • Brooklyn McCarty
    Investor · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 754 votes
    3y

    Why not search for STR friendly Florida markets?

    0Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    3y

    You might be able to search right outside the city limits to get around this limitation. 

    0Reply
  • Bob S.
    Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Quinn Stewart:

    Hi BP Fam,

    I am a new real estate investor looking to expand outside my current city, Daytona Beach. I am looking at St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. However, it looks like most rentals have to be more than 30 days in St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. Are there any areas within these 3 cities that allow 7 days or more? If not, I am curious how the MTR business is as far as occupancy rate goes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


     You have a great market in your backyard, why go 4 hours away ?

    0Reply
  • Luke Rorech
    Real Estate Agent · Greater Tampa Bay · Member since 2017 · 392 posts · 290 votes
    3y

    @Quinn Stewart

    When looking in Pinellas County for less than 30 day stays, unincorporated Pinellas, Largo, and Indian Rocks Beach are the most STR friendly locations. St. Pete allows 3 less than 30 day stays per trailing 12 months, so it isn't a complete no-no. I'm also a big fan of medium term rentals in the area as well.

    Feel free to reach out with any specific questions. 

    0Reply
  • Quinn Stewart
    OP
    Member since 2023 · 4 posts · 2 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Bob S.:
    Quote from @Quinn Stewart:

    Hi BP Fam,

    I am a new real estate investor looking to expand outside my current city, Daytona Beach. I am looking at St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. However, it looks like most rentals have to be more than 30 days in St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. Are there any areas within these 3 cities that allow 7 days or more? If not, I am curious how the MTR business is as far as occupancy rate goes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


     You have a great market in your backyard, why go 4 hours away ?


    Daytona and Ormond Beach only allow STR's in a very small area, either on the beach wit condo-tells or 4 blocks of land not on the beach. I prefer to rent out single family homes and not condo's. If you have any suggestions or experience in that area I would love to hear them!

    0Reply
  • Bob S.
    Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Quinn Stewart:
    Quote from @Bob S.:
    Quote from @Quinn Stewart:

    Hi BP Fam,

    I am a new real estate investor looking to expand outside my current city, Daytona Beach. I am looking at St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. However, it looks like most rentals have to be more than 30 days in St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. Are there any areas within these 3 cities that allow 7 days or more? If not, I am curious how the MTR business is as far as occupancy rate goes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


     You have a great market in your backyard, why go 4 hours away ?


    Daytona and Ormond Beach only allow STR's in a very small area, either on the beach wit condo-tells or 4 blocks of land not on the beach. I prefer to rent out single family homes and not condo's. If you have any suggestions or experience in that area I would love to hear them!


    St Augustine, Melbourne and others. There are so many markets within an hour of you that are booming with rentals. I know this as I live in Jensen Beach. 

    0Reply
  • Patricia Steiner
    Real Estate Broker · Hyde Park Tampa, FL · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y

    The issue is this: Florida's hotel lobby. It's one of the strongest in the nation and it keeps the STR zoning restrictive. Even markets that have been open to STR are now reassessing due to issues that have arisen from neighboring properties. Having said that, my clients and I love the vacation rental business and invest heavily in it - but we only do it in markets where it is legal. The risk of going 'underground' is simply not worth what happens if 'discovered.' Much of Tampa Bay is in a severe housing crisis and opportunities are emerging that are investor-friendly and even allow for a single parcel to be developed up to 4 units to bulk up housing. It may be worth exploring these newer opportunities which are nothing less than a lifetime opportunity to expotentially grow your empire. Hope this helps...

    3Reply
  • Doug SmithPro Member
    Lender · Tampa, FL · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    3y

    I'm in the Tampa Bay area. A lot of the municipalities in the area are moving to curb STRs. I know Indian Rocks Beach, also in Pinellas County with St Pete, has been discussing curbing them. It would be a shame to buy a property to STR out only to have them change the rules on you. Also, there a several pockets of St Pete that are in historical districts even if they don't seem to be. Be careful with limitations on renovations and special requirements in that area.

    1Reply
  • Caylee Decleene
    Real Estate Agent · St. Petersburg, FL · Member since 2021 · 6 posts · 6 votes
    3y

    You can legally STR in unincorporated Pinellas county and Largo. I use this site to check for unincorporated areas. There are other cities in Pinellas county (I just don't know enough about them). Check here for each city. Ex: Pinellas Park doesn't have regulations. 

    3Reply
  • Doreen Linder
    Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    3y

    According to my realtor, Sarasota short terms can only be one week and beyond.

    0Reply
  • Raymond J. RodriguesBusiness Member
    Lender · Miami, FL · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 797 votes
    3y

    Hi @Quinn Stewart, I would reach out to @Josh Green, he is an expert in the area. 

    [email protected]619-456-8311
    Helm Mortgage Corp.5126 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Lucie Tighe
    Property Manager · Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 147 posts · 66 votes
    3y

    @Quinn Stewart St Petersburg and Clearwater are not STR friendly unfortunately. There is handful of grandfathered in properties in Clearwater Beach that allow STR. Pinellas Park and Largo would be places that allow STR/are not regulated. There is quite a few cities in Pinellas that have a zone or two that allow STR but it can be quite a maze to navigate, example of those would be Dunedin, Seminole, Treasure Island, Safety Harbor, Gulfport, Madeira Beach... You can find a lot of information on county/city sites and/or calling respective zonning departments. If you have a specific address, they can tell you yes or no. Hope this helps.

    2Reply
  • Kyle Wise
    Member since 2019 · 30 posts · 32 votes
    3y

    @Quinn Stewart I'm looking at the St Pete/ Indian Rocks/ Treasure Island area as well however, I'm waiting to buy because I think a lot of the properties are overpriced and the COCR just isn't there. Also be aware, insurance premiums have gone through the roof lately with the recent hurricane which is also impacting profit margins.

    0Reply
  • Kathy Chen
    Investor · St Petersburg · Member since 2021 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    3y

    I am also a new investor in St Pete, would like to see how your search go. 

    How about MTR in the old northeast area? I would like to hear if anyone has any insights about that neighborhood? My realtor has told me this area has great demand.

    0Reply
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