Tampa, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated August 23, 2023

Tampa Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

City Code of Ordinances

Tampa currently has a relatively unregulated market for short-term rentals. State laws govern it, and thus those operating an STR business in Tampa need to ensure their property licensing and tax documentation.

Meanwhile, Hillsborough County, which contains the metropolitan area of Tampa, offers a little more restriction. The main concern on the county level is that those properties rented for 7 days or less at a time can only operate in certain city zones.

There are two layers of regulations in the Tampa housing market to discuss: the state-level and county-level laws. Overall, Airbnb is legal in Tampa on the state level, but no official ordinance has been passed at the county level. Hillsborough County, the county Tampa is located in, does not have any official short-term rental laws set in stone as of yet. The City Commission started discussing an ordinance in early March 2019. Some of the proposed Airbnb regulations in Tampa include maximum occupancy limits, parking requirements, and minimum living and safety requirements.

Business License Requirements

If you are listing a short-term rental, such as a single room or rooms other than the whole unit while the host remains in the home, you are not required to obtain a license from DBPR.

Rental Certificates are required only for residential properties inside the City of Tampa.  Before beginning the rental application or renewal process, you strongly recommended that you read the instructions before starting your application.

Building and Housing Standards

Once the property is registered with the state as a vacation rental, you will be held responsible for meeting all applicable health and safety rules and any violations. These range from ensuring hygiene and cleanliness, providing a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment to guests, and scheduling and passing regular inspections. Visit the City of Tampa Municipal Code (Chapter 19-231) or contact the City's Building Department for more information.

Tourist and Local Taxes

Guests who book in Hillsborough County, FL, will pay the following taxes as part of their reservation:
  • Hillsborough County Tourist Development Tax: 6% of the listing price, including any cleaning fee for reservations 182 nights and shorter. For detailed information, please visit the Hillsborough County Tax Collector website.

Other Rules

The laws and regulations that govern the short-term rental market are constantly changing. As demand remains high, more and more cities and vacation destinations will continue to take steps to protect residential neighborhoods and guests alike. For now, check the City's ordinances and state laws before getting started and revisit them often as regulations can change at any time.
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  • Short Term City Rating
    6.3
  • Competition

    2.6
  • Real Estate Cost

    6.8
  • STR Regulations

    8.0
  • Seasonality

    8.6
  • Rental Rates

    5.4

Tampa, Florida Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
384,959
STR License Required
Yes
Tourist Season
January to April; May to August
County
Hillsborough
Airports
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
Review our Tampa Florida short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Tampa?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Tampa rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Tampa rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Tampa.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Tampa Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Tampa guests.

Interested in other Florida cities?

Check out the Florida short term rental regulations directory 

What makes Tampa a great place to invest?

Located on the west coast of Florida, the city of Tampa has a population of about 385,000, which is spread out over an area of 142 square miles, making it the largest city in the Tampa Bay Area and the third largest in Florida. Close to the famous beaches of Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Tampa has many attractions and amenities that make it a great place to visit.
  • Lowry Park Zoo which features more than 1,200 animals from 250 species; Tampa Bay History Center which offers hands-on activities for children
  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - This theme park and zoo is one of Tampa's most popular attractions, offering thrilling roller coasters, animal exhibits, live shows, and much more. Visitors can also experience the Serengeti Safari, a guided tour that offers an up-close look at African wildlife.
  • Bayshore Boulevard - This scenic drive along Tampa Bay offers stunning views of the water and downtown Tampa skyline. Visitors can also walk, run, or bike along the 4.5-mile path, which is lined with beautiful homes and parks.
  • Tampa Riverwalk - This scenic waterfront path stretches 2.6 miles along the Hillsborough River, offering stunning views of downtown Tampa and access to a variety of parks, museums, and other attractions. Visitors can rent bikes, kayaks, and other equipment to explore the river and its surroundings.
  • Ybor City - This historic district is known for its vibrant nightlife, Cuban and Spanish-influenced architecture, and cultural events. Visitors can explore the district's many cigar shops, restaurants, and art galleries, or catch a performance at the historic Tampa Theatre.
Home to two major sports franchises, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Other amenities include shopping malls like International Plaza & Bay Street Shopping Center and public parks such as Al Lopez Park or Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Tampa also has a thriving culture with events like Gasparilla Festival and Ybor City's Cuban heritage festival.

Tampa Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Tampa?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Tampa has increased 3% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $280, which is higher than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$422,619

3% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$280

0% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$2,134

4% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Tampa, Florida

Word Cloud for Tampa, Florida Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Tampa short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Tampa has a description approximately 1,366 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 7,519 listings in Tampa, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Tampa, Pool, Downtown Tampa, Place, Tampa Bay, Busch Garden, Raymond James, Family, James Stadium, and Beautiful.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Tampa?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Tampa involve going to the Zoo, Theme Parks, Museums, Water Parks, and the City Centre. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Zoo

Theme Parks

Museums

Water Parks

City Centre

Boating

Casinos

Outlet Shopping

Swimming

Health Spa

Adventure Activities

Water Sports

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Tampa, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Port of Tampa, Tampa Riverwalk, Raymond James Stadium, and Tampa Convention Center. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Well Known Attraction

Tampa Riverwalk

Included on 89% of listings

Well Known Attraction

University of Tampa

Included on 88% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Port of Tampa

Included on 88% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Florida Aquarium

Included on 88% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Tampa Convention Center

Included on 88% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Amalie Arena

Included on 88% of listings

Regional Landmark

Tampa General Hospital

Included on 88% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Raymond James Stadium

Included on 87% of listings

Well Known Attraction

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Included on 87% of listings

Local Landmark

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

Included on 86% of listings

Regional Landmark

International Plaza and Bay Street

Included on 85% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Included on 83% of listings

What’s the weather like in Tampa, Florida?

The weather is generally warmer than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 82°, while the average low is about 65°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 43 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Tampa are generally muggier than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

54° Low 72° High

Precipitation
6.9"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
18.5 days
Cloudiness
39%

Spring

March through May

64° Low 82° High

Precipitation
7.6"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
41.8 days
Cloudiness
39%

Summer

June through August

76° Low 90° High

Precipitation
18.8"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
90.4 days
Cloudiness
62%

Fall

September through November

67° Low 84° High

Precipitation
9.7"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
60.6 days
Cloudiness
46%