Tampa does not require the host to be present during a short-term rental stay because Florida Statute §509.032 partially preempts local STR operational rules, leaving registration as Tampa's main lever under Code Ch. 27 §27-114.
Unlike many cities, Tampa cannot impose a host-presence or 'hosted-only' requirement on whole-home STRs. Florida Statute §509.032(7) preempts the regulation of duration and frequency of vacation rentals, and case law has limited cities to non-discriminatory rules that also apply to other dwellings. Tampa instead relies on registration (Ch. 27 §27-114), state DBPR licensing, tax collection, and generally applicable noise, parking, and occupancy codes. Owners may operate non-owner-occupied rentals provided they comply with Florida Building Code, fire safety, and Hillsborough County tourist tax remittance.
Operating without a Tampa STR registration or DBPR vacation rental license can trigger code enforcement citations and daily fines, even though host-presence itself is not mandated.
Tampa, FL
Tampa STR operators must hold a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental license, register with the Florida Department of Revenue and Hillsborough County Tax Collector f...
Tampa, FL
Tampa cannot limit short-term rentals to a host's primary residence because Florida §509.032 preempts duration and frequency restrictions, so investor-owned ...
See how Tampa's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
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