If your property is a single-family home, duplex, triplex, or quad-plex that is rented to guests more than three times per calendar year for periods of 30 days or less, your property is considered a short term rental.
Requirements for short term rentals.
The following steps shall be followed in the order they are listed in below.
- Please review the Comprehensive Development Code Section 15.18 Short Term Vacation Rentals. This section contains helpful information.
- Contact Community Standards. Schedule a short term rental pre-inspection by calling (727)587-6799.
- Designate your responsible party. This can be done by posting the name and telephone number on the exterior of the property in an area visible to the public. An example of a Responsible Party External Notice is available online. As an alternative, the rental unit can be added to the City's alarm decal system. Please bring the completed Short Term Vacation Rental Designated Responsible Party Form to the Police Department for enrollment into that program.
Remember, the designated responsible party can be the owner, a property management company, or another person over 18, and must be available 24/7 to resolve any issues or concerns with the short term rental.
- Post required information for your rental guests. You can use this internal posting which contains important safety information for your guests and is required to be posted in a conspicuous location within each rental unit.
- Fire safety inspection. Please follow the requirements listed in the Short-Term Rental Requirements and contact Largo Fire Rescue to schedule your High Hazard Inspection. The cost is $100 as prescribed by the City's fee ordinance. This inspection must be conducted annually per the Florida Fire Code. Please contact (727)587-6714 to schedule.
- That's all, and happy hosting!
The City has adopted minimal regulations for short term rentals. Below is a summary list. The City’s regulations do not replace or alter any requirements imposed by the State of Florida, including any requirements for state licensure or state sales tax. These rules also do not affect additional regulations prescribed by Home Owners Associations (HOAs), Property Owners Associations (POAs) or deed restrictions. It is the property owner’s responsibility to comply with any state, HOA, POA, or deed restrictions or face potential enforcement or penalties from those authorities. The City, however, does not enforce the state’s licensure or sales tax requirements or HOA, POA, or deed restrictions.
SUMMARY OF CITY RULES FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS
- Minimum Standards. The property must meet the minimum standards set forth in the Florida Building Code, the Florida Fire Code, the Florida Life Safety Code; and the City’s Comprehensive Development Code. As a short term rental, the fire code requires a high hazard inspection be performed annually.
- Swimming Pools. If the property has a swimming pool, spas or hot tubs, such features must comply with the standards of the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (found in Chapter 515 of Florida Statutes).
- Fire extinguisher. Portable fire extinguishers must be installed on each floor of the property in open areas or with appropriate markings showing the location.
- Internal Informational Posting. The City’s short term rental internal posting form is available online. It shall be completed in its entirety and must be posted in a visually unobstructed area within each short term rental unit.
- Designated Responsible Party. Either the property owner, or a designated person over 18 years of age, or a property management company must be responsible for responding to requests, complaints, or other inquiries regarding the short term rental. This person must be available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week and capable of directly responding, or directing a designated agent to directly respond to and resolve any issues or concerns with the short term rental. If necessary, the designated responsible party must be willing and able to come to the short-term vacation rental unit within two (2) hours following notification to address any issue that is not capable of being addressed via telephone.
- Designated Responsible Party Posting. The name and telephone number of the responsible party must either be posted on the front exterior of the property in an area visible to the public or associated with the property through the City’s alarm decal system.
- Maximum Occupancy. The maximum number of guests cannot exceed 1 person per 150 gross square feet of air-conditioned living space.
- Parking. One off-street parking space must be available per three guests. Garage spaces may count toward this requirement if the garage is open (i.e. unobstructed) and made available to guests for parking.
- Other standards. The property must otherwise comply with all other standards contained the City’s Code of Ordinances and Comprehensive Development Code (including requirements related to noise, and nuisances). Visit Largo's Code of Ordinances to learn more about Largo's noise regulations.
If you have questions about building permits or un-permitted construction work on a short term rental, please contact the Building Division at (727)586-7488.
If you have complaints about a short term rental, please contact Community Standards at (727)587-6799 or use our online reporting tool here.
If you have questions about the Fire Code or a Fire Safety Inspection, please contact Fire Rescue at (727)587-6714 or email [email protected].
If you have other questions about short term rentals, please contact the Community Standards Division at 727-587-6799.
