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Clearwater, FL Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

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
Transfer fee: 10% of tax ($3-$25), § 29.38

Summary

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.

090.000 RENTAL PROPERTY 091.000 SINGLE FAMILY/DUPLEX: Rental Period, 30 days or more, 1—5 units on the same or contiguous parcels 31.50 Plus, each additional unit 1.70 ...Any person who maintains a permanent or temporary business location or branch office within the city to manage a profession, business or occupation shall first obtain a city business tax receipt for each location and pay the appropriate fee as prescribed in Appendix A of this Code.

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Full Breakdown

000. 090). 30 of the Code supplies the underlying legal requirement: any person maintaining a business location in the city, including a rental property, must first obtain the receipt and pay the fee set in Appendix A before operating, and must display the receipt in a prominent location within the rental business. 31, which still requires zoning verification that the rental use is allowed at that address under Community Development Code section 4-205. 38, and it lapses each year on September 30 unless renewed.

Violations & Fines

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a regular, month-to-month rental need a city license?

Yes. Section 29.30 requires any rental property in Clearwater, not just short-term rentals, to carry a city business tax receipt. Section 091.000 sets the fee at $31.50 for one to five units on the same parcel and $1.70 for each additional unit, renewed annually.

Is the standard rental fee the same as the short-term rental fee?

The dollar amounts match, $31.50 for up to five units plus $1.70 each additional unit, but the short-term classification in section 091.010 carries an added Planning Department approval condition under Note C that the standard 30-day-or-more category in section 091.000 does not.

Can I transfer my rental property receipt if I sell the property?

Yes, under section 29.38, with the buyer paying a transfer fee equal to 10 percent of the annual tax, at least $3 and no more than $25, and presenting proof of sale along with the original business tax receipt.

Sources & Official References

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All Clearwater rules

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