Clearwater, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Clearwater, FL, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing requirement
- City Code § 29.30 (BTR required)
- Application review
- § 29.31, up to 30 days
- Extra STR condition
- Planning Dept. approval (Note C)
- State/county condition
- Inspection or license (Note D)
- Appeal window
- Right of appeal under § 29.44
- Penalty for unlicensed operation
- 25% penalty fee
Summary
Before renting any home, condo or apartment in Clearwater for less than 30 days, the owner must obtain a city business tax receipt under section 29.30 of the Code. Short-term rentals classified in Appendix A section 091.010 carry an extra condition the standard, 30-day-or-longer rental does not: Planning Department approval under Note C.
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. ...(a)The application for a business tax receipt has definitely stated the exact location at which the business shall be operated and a zoning official has verified that such business, occupation or profession is allowed under the community development code, section 4-205. ...Within 30 days of the submittal of an application, the director of the department shall issue a business tax receipt or notify the applicant in writing setting forth the grounds for the city's refusal to issue a business tax receipt. 091.010 SINGLE FAMILY/DUPLEX: Rental Period, less than 30 days, (See notes C and D) ... C.Requires approval by the Planning Department.
Full Breakdown
30 of the Code of Ordinances requires any person who maintains a business location in the city, including a rental unit, to obtain a business tax receipt before operating and to pay the fee set in Appendix A. 31 lays out what the application must clear before the director issues that receipt: the applicant must state the exact address of the rental, a zoning official must verify under Community Development Code section 4-205 that the use is allowed there, and, where the classification requires it, the police chief, city manager, county health department, harbormaster or building official must sign off.
44. 000: a short-term rental additionally 'Requires approval by the Planning Department,' on top of Note D's requirement of inspection, approval or license by state or county authority. In practice that means an owner converting a long-term rental to a nightly or weekly rental has to clear an added Planning Department review before the city issues the business tax receipt covering the short-term use, not just pay the higher-scrutiny fee.
Violations & Fines
Renting out a unit under the short-term classification without first clearing the zoning verification, Planning Department approval and any required police or health department sign-off exposes the owner to the same penalties as any unlicensed business under Article II: a 25 percent penalty fee under Appendix A for operating before the receipt issues, plus civil penalty exposure under section 1.12, and the director can also deny or revoke the receipt for cause under section 29.41.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Clearwater?
What makes the short-term rental application different from a regular lease?
How long does the city have to approve or deny my application?
Can the city take my short-term rental receipt away later?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clearwater
How Clearwater compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Clearwater to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.