Short-Term Rental Regulations Across Pinellas County’s Gulf Coast Beach Communities

Belleair Not STR-Friendly

Governing body: Town of Belleair • townofbelleair.com

Belleair is the most restrictive community in this guide. The Town prohibits rentals of residential properties for periods of less than seven months. In practical terms, this eliminates vacation rentals, Airbnb-style short stays, and monthly rentals alike. Only a semi-annual lease satisfies the minimum.

This is a grandfathered ordinance predating Florida’s 2011 preemption law, giving the Town full legal authority to enforce it. Belleair is a private, luxury enclave, and its residents have consistently supported these restrictions to preserve the community’s character.

For homebuyers: If you want a community where you will not have vacation rental neighbors, Belleair is one of the best-protected addresses on the Gulf Coast.

Clearwater Residential Ban

Governing body: City of Clearwater • myclearwater.com

Clearwater draws a hard line: short-term rentals are prohibited in all residential zoning districts. Any rental of fewer than 31 days or one calendar month in a residential zone is illegal. Residential property owners can advertise for monthly rentals — they cannot advertise for daily or weekly stays.

STRs are permitted in Tourist Districts and certain Business Districts, where transient accommodations are expected. A small number of HOA-governed condo or townhome communities may also allow short-term rentals through their own association rules — but this is property-specific and must be verified individually before purchase.

Clearwater’s Code Compliance Division actively enforces its STR ordinance and is known for strict enforcement. Buyers should not assume an active Airbnb listing indicates legal compliance.

Indian Rocks Beach STR-Friendly

Governing body: City of Indian Rocks Beach • Vacation Rental Information

Indian Rocks Beach is one of the most established short-term rental markets on Pinellas County’s barrier islands. The city adopted a comprehensive STR ordinance (Ordinance 2023-02) effective August 1, 2023, creating a structured registration and compliance framework that allows STRs while setting clear standards for guests, operators, and neighbors.

Registration Requirements

Any property owner wishing to rent for short-term stays must complete an Annual Vacation Rental Registration (VRR) application with the City. This is separate from the state DBPR license (also required). Advertising a property for short-term rental without a valid VRR is a violation subject to fines.

Key Operational Rules

• Maximum occupancy: 10 guests per unit (a proposed increase to 12 was under consideration in early 2025 — verify current limit)
• Safety inspections: Required as part of the annual registration process
• Enforcement: Active — the city monitors for unregistered operators and compliance violations

For homebuyers: Indian Rocks Beach has a significant existing STR inventory and this activity is part of the community’s character. If you prefer minimal vacation rental neighbor activity, IRB may not be the right fit.

Indian Shores Most Permissive

Governing body: Town of Indian Shores • Town FAQ

Indian Shores is the most permissive short-term rental market in this guide. According to the Town’s official FAQ, Indian Shores has no town-level rental restrictions — no minimum rental duration, no frequency limits. The town does not impose the kind of registration or occupancy rules found in Indian Rocks Beach.

This has made Indian Shores a popular destination for vacation rental investors and a community with a thriving mix of vacation properties and full-time residents. Active Airbnb and VRBO listings are abundant throughout the town.

What “No Town Restrictions” Still Means

• DBPR license: Still required if renting more than 3 times per year for stays under 30 days.
• Pinellas County Tourist Development Tax: 6% tax applies to all guest stays of 6 months or fewer.
• HOA / Condo Association rules: If your property is in a condominium or HOA, the association’s documents may impose their own rental restrictions that supersede the town’s permissive stance. Always review condo docs before purchasing with STR intent.
• Zoning confirmation: Verify your property is within Town of Indian Shores limits, not unincorporated county territory.

Madeira Beach Zone-Dependent

Governing body: City of Madeira Beach • Code Enforcement

Madeira Beach takes a zoning-based approach: whether you can legally operate an STR depends entirely on your property’s specific zoning classification. The City maintains a Vacation Rental Restriction Map that delineates where STRs are permitted and where they are not. This map is essential research for any buyer with STR intent — verify your specific address against it before making any offer.

In most residential zones, short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days are prohibited. Rentals of 30 days or more are generally permitted across all zoning districts. Where STRs are legally eligible, a City Business Tax Receipt is required in addition to the DBPR state license.

The 30-day alternative: In permitted zones, or for owners whose properties are in restricted zones, monthly rentals (30+ days) are a viable income strategy given the strong demand for seasonal winter stays along this corridor.

North Redington Beach Not STR-Friendly

Governing body: Town of North Redington Beach • Rental Restrictions

North Redington Beach requires a minimum rental period of 90 consecutive days in all residential zoning districts. This eliminates the traditional vacation rental market for residential properties. The restriction is a grandfathered pre-2011 ordinance codified under Chapter 78-1 “Residential Dwelling Unit” in the town’s municipal code.

The 90-day minimum does allow for longer seasonal rentals. A winter-season tenant staying from January through March satisfies the minimum — making true “snowbird” rentals viable, but not week-to-week or monthly vacation stays.

For homebuyers: North Redington Beach is one of the most protected communities on the Gulf Coast for those who value residential stability and minimal transient traffic. The exclusivity, the Gulf-front addresses, and the enforced minimum stays make it one of the quietest residential corridors on the barrier islands.

Redington Beach Effectively Banned — Active Litigation

Governing body: Town of Redington Beach • Short-Term Rental Ordinance

Redington Beach is the most aggressively anti-vacation-rental community in Pinellas County. The town requires a minimum rental period of 181 consecutive days (approximately 6 months) for single-family properties in Districts 2 and 3 — covering the town’s primary residential areas.

Beyond the six-month minimum, the town has been actively pursuing a complete ban on vacation renters through litigation. In a town referendum, 86% of voters approved a measure to completely ban vacation renters. The town has filed lawsuits seeking to validate that referendum. As of early 2026, litigation is ongoing and the regulatory environment could shift further in the restrictive direction.

For homebuyers: The 86% referendum result is the clearest community signal in Pinellas County. If you want a neighborhood with near-zero vacation rental activity and a strong community consensus against transient traffic, Redington Beach is worth serious consideration.

Redington Shores Very Limited

Governing body: Town of Redington Shores • Rental Regulations

Redington Shores uses a district-based approach to rental restrictions, but the net result is highly restrictive across most property types. The rules differ significantly by zoning:

A special use permit for transient rentals in residential districts may be granted for specified limited periods under specific circumstances, but these are rare and not guaranteed.

As in neighboring communities, advertising a property for transient rental by any method constitutes operation of a transient rental. Each day of violation is a separate offense subject to a $500.00 fine. Always confirm the specific zoning district of any Redington Shores property before making any assumptions about rental potential.

St. Pete Beach Highly Restricted

Governing body: City of St. Pete Beach • STR Rules & Regulations

St. Pete Beach has a carefully calibrated — and highly restrictive — STR policy enforced with substantial fines.

The Three-Rental Rule

In Residential Medium (RM) zoning districts and the Pass-a-Grille overlay district, property owners may rent for fewer than 30 days a maximum of three times per calendar year. A fourth short-term stay — even one night — is a violation. In 2025, a Pass-a-Grille homeowner faced a $4,500 fine for exceeding the three-rental limit by a single stay.

The 30-Day Alternative

In any zoning district, property owners may rent their property as many times as desired, provided each rental period is 30 days or longer. Monthly seasonal rentals (winter stays) are viable — making St. Pete Beach a possible market for snowbird-style income without triggering STR restrictions.

For STR investors, three stays per year is insufficient to build a meaningful income stream. St. Pete Beach is not a viable primary STR investment market under current regulations.

Tierra Verde Permitted — County Rules Apply

Governing body: Pinellas County (unincorporated) • pinellas.gov/str

Tierra Verde is not an incorporated city or town. It operates as an unincorporated community within Pinellas County under a designated Tierra Verde Community Overlay. This means Tierra Verde properties follow Pinellas County’s short-term rental rules rather than any municipal code.

In March 2025, Pinellas County adopted a new STR ordinance for unincorporated areas establishing a Certificate of Use program with clear operational standards.

Pinellas County STR Certificate of Use Requirements

• Certificate of Use required for each STR property; non-transferable and property-specific
• Initial property inspection: $150; renewed every two years at $100
• Maximum occupancy: 10 guests (2 per bedroom + 2 in common areas)
• Parking: 1 off-street space per 3 guests, rounded up; front-lawn parking does not count
• Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Confirm whether your specific property is in unincorporated Pinellas County or within an incorporated boundary — portions of the area may have different governance.

Treasure Island Zone-Dependent

Governing body: City of Treasure Island • STR Information

Treasure Island uses its zoning code to distinguish residential neighborhoods — where “Tourist Dwellings” are not permitted — from commercial and tourist-zoned areas where they are fully allowed.

Where Tourist Dwellings Are NOT Permitted

• RU-75 (Single-Family Residential): Tourist Dwellings prohibited. A property is presumed to be a Tourist Dwelling if publicly advertised for rental or if there are more than 2 changes of occupancy in a 12-month period.
• RM-15 (Multi-Family Residential): Tourist Dwellings prohibited. Threshold is more than 6 changes of occupancy in a 12-month period.

Where Tourist Dwellings ARE Permitted

• CG (Commercial General), RFM-30, RFH-50, PR-MU Core, PR-MU Gulf Boulevard — Tourist Dwellings permitted without occupancy-change restrictions.

For investors: Focus acquisition efforts on CG, RFM-30, RFH-50, or PR-MU zoned properties if STR income is the goal. The occupancy-change triggers also mean residential buyers who intend only occasional rentals should be aware that frequent turnover can result in a Tourist Dwelling presumption.