Saint Petersburg, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
St. Petersburg caps most residential short-term rentals at 3 rentals per year; true STR use is limited to downtown/commercial zones.
Quick Answer: Saint Petersburg, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the St. Petersburg market area is 68%. average monthly revenue in the St. Petersburg market area is $5,523. average daily rate in the St. Petersburg market area is $295. 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
St. Petersburg’s short-term rental rules are the first thing to know before looking at performance numbers: in the city’s most common residential zones (Residential Traditional and Residential Suburban), a property owner may rent for under 30 days a maximum of three times in any 365-day period, a rule designed specifically to prevent full-time Airbnb-style operation in neighborhoods. True nightly or weekly short-term rental operation is generally only viable in Downtown Center (DC) and Commercial General (CG) districts, or where hotel/motel use or a special overlay applies. Florida’s state preemption law bars the city from running a dedicated STR registry or outright ban, so zoning and the 3-rentals-per-year frequency limit are the city’s main levers instead.
With that context, St. Petersburg has a population of 267,102 and sits within the Visit St. Pete-Clearwater tourism destination (Pinellas County), which drew more than 15.4 million visitors in fiscal year 2024, generating over $11.2 billion in economic impact.
StaySTRA tracks St. Petersburg’s short-term rental performance data, dimension mix, and property manager roster at the Tampa Bay regional level, shared with Clearwater, Dunedin, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, and Safety Harbor, so the figures below describe the Tampa Bay area STR market rather than St. Petersburg alone, and in any case reflect whatever mix of DC/CG-zoned, hotel-overlay, and grandfathered residential listings currently operates, not a template for a new residential STR purchase. In June 2026, the Tampa Bay area STR market posted a blended ADR of $294.60 and 68.3% occupancy, with average monthly revenue of $5,523/listing.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 82% |
| Mar | 82% |
| Apr | 65% |
| May | 62% |
| Jun | 70% |
| Jul | 70% |
| 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
St. Petersburg cannot ban or register short-term rentals directly, Florida’s state preemption law bars that, so the city controls STRs through zoning and a rental-frequency limit instead. A short-term rental is any stay under 30 days. In the city’s most common residential zones, Residential Traditional (RT) and Residential Suburban (RS), an owner may rent under 30 days a maximum of three times per 365-day period, a rule specifically designed to prevent full-time nightly-rental operation in neighborhoods.
True short-term operation is generally only viable in Downtown Center (DC) and Commercial General (CG) districts, or where hotel/motel use or a special overlay is permitted; condo-hotels and unincorporated Pinellas County areas with St. Petersburg addresses follow different county rules.
To operate legally where it’s allowed, an owner needs a City of St. Petersburg Business Tax Receipt, a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental license, and registration with the Florida Department of Revenue and Pinellas County Tax Collector. Guests pay roughly 13% total tax: 6% state sales tax, 1% Pinellas discretionary surtax, and 6% Pinellas County Tourist Development tax. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate. Enforcement is rated moderate, focused on safety and fire compliance and pursuing frequency and zoning violations, though constrained by state preemption. HOA and condo-association rules can be stricter and are independently enforced, so investors should verify those separately from city code.
Market Comparison
St. Petersburg’s regulatory stance is the standout comparison point: rather than an outright ban, the city uses a 3-rentals-per-year cap in most residential zones plus zoning restriction to Downtown Center, Commercial General, and hotel-overlay districts, a middle-ground approach between Florida cities with no local restriction and a city like Atlantic Beach, which bans residential STRs outright.
Where STRs are legal, the Tampa Bay area STR market’s June 2026 occupancy of 68.3% and $294.60 ADR both run well above the commonly cited US STR medians (roughly 55% occupancy, $220 ADR).
Top-property-manager data is tracked at the shared Tampa Bay regional level rather than uniquely for St. Petersburg. The regional roster (Resort Rentals, ITrip Vacations, Travel Resort Services, Evolve, Vacasa) is made up of established national or regional operators, consistent with a market where scale and zoning compliance both matter, but this profile omits presenting those figures as St. Petersburg’s own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Petersburg, Florida
Are short-term rentals legal in St. Petersburg, FL?
Can I buy a house in a St. Petersburg residential neighborhood and run it as a full-time Airbnb?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in St. Petersburg?
Who are the top short-term rental property managers in St. Petersburg?
What is the busiest season for short-term rentals in St. Petersburg?
What taxes apply to legal short-term rentals in St. Petersburg?
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