Tarpon Springs regulates short-term rentals as 'tourist homes' under its Land Development Code, requiring zoning approval, a 1,200-foot separation from existing tourist homes, and operation only in single-family detached dwellings.
The city defines a tourist home as a single-family detached dwelling rented for periods of six weeks or less. Owners must verify zoning eligibility through Planning and Zoning before operating, since only certain LDC and SmartCode districts permit the use. Each new tourist home must sit at least 1,200 feet from any existing approved tourist home. Florida Statute 509.032 preempts local prohibitions on duration or frequency, but Tarpon Springs's grandfathered framework (predating June 1, 2011) allows continued zoning regulation. Operators must also hold a state DBPR vacation rental license and obtain a city business tax receipt.
Operating without proper zoning approval, ignoring separation distance, or running a tourist home in a non-permitted district can trigger code enforcement fines and cease-and-desist orders.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle permit requirements.
See how Tarpon Springs's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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