Pinellas County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Section 138-3232(f) creates the mandatory certificate scheme. " Agreements already in place before the ordinance's March 25, 2025 adoption date are "vested," but the owner or responsible party must prove the agreement predates that date if the county questions it. To apply, an owner submits a form with the required fee; an incomplete application gives the applicant 20 business days to supply missing material before the application is deemed withdrawn under (f)(2). A certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed by filing 60 days before expiration under (f)(3)-(4).

Before the county issues or renews a certificate, the unit must pass an inspection confirming it meets the minimum life/safety requirements, with re-inspection required every two years thereafter under (f)(5). The application must include property manager and owner contact information with 24-hour emergency numbers, the parcel ID, a parking plan, proof of ownership, and the number of bedrooms under (f)(6), plus attestations that the owner holds an active DBPR public lodging license, an active state sales-tax resale certificate, and collects the tourist development tax under (f)(7).

Certificates are non-transferable: a sale or ownership change voids the old certificate on the 30th day unless the new owner applies for a fresh one under (f)(12).