What’s the deal with Airbnb in Tampa Bay / Gulf Coast?

Airbnb released new data that shows Florida is the No. 2 state in the U.S. for new host income. 

Tampa FL is among the highest airbnb listing locations in the entire state. With close to 2,000 Airbnb listings, the demand for vacation rentals in the city is high, making it a good place to invest in rental properties. 

Tampa & St Petersburg was among the top 10 Labor Day weekend vacation destinations in the U.S.
Local Tampa Airbnb hosts made more than $790,000 in total during Labor Day 2021

Airbnb Occupancy Rate:
St. Petersburg: 55.1%
Sarasota: 54.4%
Tampa: 52.9%

Numbers don’t lie.. but every smart investor will invest in a home for short AND long term rental potential.. 

Why? Short term rental regulations are very gray, and they can change all the time. In the Tampa / St Petersburg / Sarasota area. The zoning map looks like splatters of paint as the city works to protect the local community’s best interest and avoid a housing shortage. Certain counties enforce stricter Airbnb regulations while others only require rental property owners to promptly pay their taxes, observe zoning laws, and respect their neighbors’ right to peace and privacy. So if you’re looking at purchasing a single family residence to rent out on Airbnb or VRBO I HIGHLY recommend you refer to the link below to see which area’s you’re allowed to do so. 

Did you hear what’s happening in Atlanta with AirBnb Ordinances? 

More than 4,000 Airbnb and short-term rentals could soon disappear from Atlanta, because of a new ordinance cracking down on who’s able to rent out their home. Investors have to pay $150 annually for a permit, and pay an 8% tax rental fee. 

This isn’t to scare you off from investing, but it’s to say ANYTHING can change in any given time and you want to make sure you know the area well enough to compare vacation / tourist priorities vs. residential. 

The city of St Petersburg area is NOT zoned for AirBnb rentals. However, you will see airbnb listings scattered all across the city.  Airbnb is restricted within St Petersburg City Limits to be no less than 30 days unless the property is within a zoning district that allows the hotel or motel use or a special “overlay” approval has been obtained. 

Airbnb owners are willing to risk the fine and potential lien on their property. If you do decide to risk it, or the zoning laws change, short term can always be changed to a long term which allows the investment to be flexible. Long Term Rent rates are high in the areas listed and only have increased.

The other thing to note is that people speak about Tampa / St Petersburg and Sarasota in general taking up much of the Tampa Bay area, however, there are several smaller cities within this region that have their own ordinances where airbnb is LEGAL.

So where can you Airbnb and what cities within Tampa Bay are the smartest areas to invest?
Click the button below to see each city within the greater Tampa / St Pete area and their short term rental regulations. If you want to explore Airbnb’s in this area, reach out to Kodie or Katelyn to hear about the hot spots that are bringing in top dollar and our suggestions on where to look!

Get more info on airbnb locations near Tampa, Florida.

If you’re interested in connecting with us to chat about which airbnb location would be best for you, contact us!