Clearwater, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Clearwater short-term rentals averaged $220 ADR, 47.3% occupancy and $2,937 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Clearwater, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the St. Petersburg market area is 47%. average monthly revenue in the St. Petersburg market area is $2,937. average daily rate in the St. Petersburg market area is $220. the top operator in the St. Petersburg market area is Resort Rentals with 406 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the St. Petersburg regional market, which includes Clearwater. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Clearwater.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Clearwater sits on Florida’s Gulf Coast in Pinellas County, and the performance figures on this page describe the Pinellas County, Florida STR market, a shared regional metric series. In September 2026 the Pinellas County STR market recorded an average daily rate of $220, occupancy of 47.3% and average monthly revenue per listing of $2,937. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 5.6%, ADR is up 7.4% and revenue is up 7.0%, so the shoulder season is growing on both volume and price. September is also the weakest month of the year in the seasonal profile, at 48.3% occupancy and $2,390 in revenue, so the latest reading reflects the low point of the calendar rather than a typical month. Across the nine months of 2026 reported so far, occupancy has averaged 65.6%, ADR $268 and monthly revenue $4,798, ahead of the 2025 full year at 64.7%, $250 and $4,415. Entire place rentals average $3,001 per month, houses reach $3,158 and apartments $2,798. Demand is anchored by Pinellas County tourism, which recorded 15.4 million visitors in 2024 and more than $96 million in bed tax revenue. Winter is the main draw as northern travelers look for warm weather from November through April, and beaches, museums and waterfront attractions support leisure demand through the year. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Clearwater, so this profile omits them. Investors should treat these numbers as a regional benchmark and underwrite any specific property against its own comparable listings, neighborhood and zoning.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 82% |
| Mar | 82% |
| Apr | 65% |
| May | 62% |
| Jun | 70% |
| Jul | 69% |
| Aug | 54% |
| Sep | 48% |
| Oct | 56% |
| Nov | 57% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Clearwater are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in St. Petersburg market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the St. Petersburg market as a whole, which includes Clearwater, so these counts are not Clearwater-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resort Rentals | 406 | 16,870 | ★ 4.59 |
| 2 | ITrip Vacations | 344 | 30,278 | ★ 4.65 |
| 3 | Travel Resort Services | 330 | 9,246 | ★ 4.65 |
| 4 | Evolve | 300 | 12,536 | ★ 4.69 |
| 5 | Vacasa | 299 | 15,071 | ★ 4.59 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Clearwater?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Clearwater are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 28.4% |
| vrbo | 11.2% |
| both | 60.4% |
Home Value Trends (Clearwater)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Clearwater are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Clearwater — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
The regulatory research on file for this area was compiled for St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, so Clearwater buyers should confirm city level rules with the City of Clearwater before purchasing. What the profile establishes is that short-term rentals are permitted and a permit is required. Operators need a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License at the state level, and the permit renews annually. Pinellas County also requires a Certificate of Use for unincorporated county properties at $450 per year. The combined lodging tax is 13%, made up of 6% state sales tax, a 1% Pinellas discretionary surtax and a 6% Pinellas Tourist Development Tax. No annual night cap, owner-occupancy requirement or primary residence requirement is listed. St. Petersburg limits rentals under 30 days to 3 per 12-month period in residential zones, under an ordinance that predates Florida’s June 2011 preemption cutoff and is grandfathered under Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b). That limit is a St. Petersburg rule and should not be assumed to apply in Clearwater. Enforcement in the wider area has tightened: in mid-2024 St. Petersburg approved fines of up to $1,000 per day or $10,000 per code hearing, and in early 2025 Pinellas County adopted a new ordinance for unincorporated areas. Florida’s CS/SB 280, which would have restructured statewide preemption, was vetoed in 2024, leaving the 2011 framework in place. Always verify current rules before closing.
Market Comparison
The Pinellas County STR market looks different by season. September’s ADR of $220 and occupancy of 47.3% reflect the seasonal low point. The wider picture is stronger. The twelve month seasonal average occupancy works out to about 64.1%, and 2026 year to date ADR of $268 is about 21.8% above September’s $220. Six of the twelve months run above 65% occupancy, with February and March above 80%. Growth is also positive, with ADR up 7.4% and occupancy up 5.6% from a year earlier. The weak spot is the fall, when October through December ADR of $175 to $188 sits well below the 2026 year to date ADR of $268. Property manager rankings and operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Clearwater, so this profile omits them. For investors, the market’s strength is its winter and spring demand and rising rates, and its main risk is a long soft stretch from August to November.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clearwater, Florida
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How far in advance do guests book, and how long do they stay?
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