Saint Petersburg, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Zoning limits St. Petersburg rentals, and Pinellas County STRs earned $2,937 monthly at $220 ADR, 47.3% occupancy in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Saint Petersburg, 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 Saint Petersburg. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Saint Petersburg.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
In September 2026, the St. Petersburg-Clearwater STR market, a Pinellas County region that includes St. Petersburg, recorded an average daily rate of $220, occupancy of 47.3% and average monthly revenue of $2,937. Every performance figure on this page describes that Pinellas County region rather than St. Petersburg alone, because the underlying metrics are tracked at a shared regional level.
Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 5.6%, ADR is up 7.4% and revenue is up 7.0%. September is also the weakest month of the typical year here, with a seasonal average occupancy of 48.3% and an ADR of $179, so the year-over-year gains start from a seasonal low. Across the first nine months of 2026, the region averaged 65.6% occupancy, a $268 ADR and $4,798 in monthly revenue, compared with 64.7%, $250 and $4,415 for full-year 2025.
Demand rests on a large visitor base. The Visit St. Pete-Clearwater destination, which covers Pinellas County, drew more than 15.4 million visitors in fiscal year 2024, a county-level total rather than a St. Petersburg count. St. Petersburg itself has a population of 267,102. Guests come mainly for Gulf beaches, Fort De Soto Park, the St. Pete Pier, the Dalí Museum and the downtown arts and dining scene, and the visitor base skews toward leisure travel.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for St. Petersburg, so this profile omits them. The typical home value is $354,074. Investors should read the regulatory section before underwriting, since zoning in most residential districts sharply limits short-term stays.
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 Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg, so these counts are not Saint Petersburg-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 Saint Petersburg?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Saint Petersburg 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 (Saint Petersburg)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg — 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
Zoning is the main constraint in St. Petersburg. Short-term rentals, meaning stays under 30 days, are effectively barred in most residential zones. In Residential Traditional (RT) and Residential Suburban (RS) districts, a property may be rented for under 30 days only 3 times per 12-month period, a limit that rules out full-time nightly operation in those neighborhoods. Short-term rentals are generally allowed in Downtown Center (DC) and Commercial General (CG) districts, and where hotel or motel use or a special overlay is permitted. Condo-hotels and unincorporated Pinellas County areas with St. Petersburg addresses follow different, county-level rules.
Short-term rentals are permitted, but Florida state preemption stops the city from running its own dedicated STR registry. Operators need a City Business Tax Receipt (BTR) and a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License, with annual renewal. The occupancy tax is 6%, and the Pinellas County Tourist Development tax is remitted through registration with the Florida Department of Revenue and the Pinellas County Tax Collector. There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement.
Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Code enforcement inspects for safety and fire compliance and pursues violations of the zoning and frequency rules, though state preemption limits what the city can do. Recent changes are minor. No major city ordinance overhaul has been confirmed in the last 24 months, and a 2024 state STR bill (SB 280) was vetoed, leaving the framework unchanged. Investors should also check HOA and condo association rules, which can be stricter and are enforced independently.
Market Comparison
In September 2026, the Pinellas County region recorded a $220 ADR and 47.3% occupancy, which is a seasonal low. In February and March the region runs 81.7% and 82.4% occupancy, and June and July both run near 69.5%.
The annual picture is stronger than the single month suggests. Full-year 2025 averaged 64.7% occupancy and a $250 ADR, and 2026 year-to-date stands at 65.6% and $268. ADR growth of 7.4% year over year also shows that rates are climbing in a market where the weakest months still hold occupancy above 48%.
The demand base is large. Pinellas County drew more than 15.4 million visitors in fiscal year 2024, generating over $11.2 billion in economic impact. St. Petersburg adds a cultural draw through the Dalí Museum, the St. Pete Pier and the Museum of Fine Arts, alongside the beaches at St. Pete Beach and Fort De Soto Park.
Property manager and operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for St. Petersburg, so this profile omits them. The main difference from many markets is regulation, since zoning here is more restrictive than the statewide framework suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Petersburg, Florida
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Is Airbnb legal in St. Petersburg, Florida?
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How far ahead do guests book, and how long do they stay?
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