Rental Property Rules in Clearwater, FL

If you live in Clearwater or are thinking about moving there, rental property rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Clearwater has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of rental property rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Rental Registration

Any landlord operating a single-family home, duplex, apartment, condo or banquet hall for lease in Clearwater must hold a city business tax receipt, whether the lease runs 30 days or longer or less. Appendix A section 091.000 sets the standard rental tier at $31.50 for up to five units plus $1.70 per additional unit.

Key details: Standard rental fee: $31.50 for 1-5 units, § 091.000. Each additional unit: $1.70. Legal basis: City Code § 29.30, BTR required. Banquet/hall rental fee: $127.50, § 090.010. Renewal date: Annually by September 30.

Leasing property without the business tax receipt required by section 29.30 exposes the owner to the same 25 percent penalty fee under Appendix A that applies to any unlicensed business, plus civil penalty exposure under section 1.12. The director can also deny renewal or revoke an existing receipt for cause under section 29.41, including maintaining a nuisance or violating the Code three or more times in a permit year.

Rent Control

Florida law flatly bars Clearwater and every other city or county in the state from adopting rent control. Fla. Stat. § 166.043(2) voids any ordinance, rule, or other measure that would cap or otherwise control rents, so landlords in Clearwater set rents without a municipal ceiling. The one carve-out lets the city use land-use tools, like inclusionary housing ordinances, to grow the affordable-housing supply instead.

Key details: Governing statute: Fla. Stat. § 166.043(2). Rule: Cities and counties may not impose rent controls. Exception: Affordable-housing land-use tools, § 166.043(3). First enacted: 1977, ch. 77-50. Last amended: 2024, ch. 2024-27.

Section 166.043 sets no fine or misdemeanor penalty; it operates by voiding the local measure itself. Any Clearwater ordinance that imposed rent controls would be unenforceable and subject to being struck down in a declaratory judgment or injunction action brought in Pinellas County circuit court, since a municipality has no home-rule authority to enact a law that state statute expressly forbids.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Clearwater gives residents more flexibility on rent control.

The Bottom Line

Clearwater's rental property rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Clearwater is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Clearwater's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.