Joining this conversation late, but honestly trying to figure out everything.
Posting the St. Pete code here which is still confusing to me in many ways because FL state's pre-emptive clause https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/356/BillText/Filed/HTML about regulations being preempted to FL state so local municipalities still can't regulate duration of short term rentals unless grandfathered in before 2011? But then in other places it says 2014? I can't even find the date of when the city code below was adopted.
"Transient means a person having the right to occupy a hotel, motel or other transient accommodation unit for a term less than monthly.
Transient accommodation unit means a room or rooms, or other living quarters, within a transient accommodations use which is designed to be occupied as a single unit by one or more persons.
Transient accommodation uses means a building containing one or more transient accommodation units, one or more of which is occupied by one or more persons, or offered or advertised as being available for such occupancy, when the right of occupancy is for a term less than monthly, such right of occupancy being available more than three times in any consecutive 365-day period. The determination that a property is being used as a transient accommodation use is made without regard to the form of ownership of the property or unit, or whether the occupant has a direct or an indirect ownership interest in the property or unit; and without regard to whether the right of occupancy arises from a rental agreement, other agreement, or the payment of consideration. The term "transient accommodation uses" includes but is not limited to hotels, motels, recreational vehicle parks, tourist lodging facilities, resort condominiums, resort dwellings, vacation resorts, and dwelling units occupied or available for occupancy on an interval ownership or "time share" basis, when any of the above are made available for occupancy more than three times in any consecutive 365-day period and the right of occupancy is for a term less than monthly.
The term "transient accommodation uses" does not include any of the following uses if such use otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the City and is licensed by the State of Florida, if such licensing is required by law: bed and breakfast homes, community residential homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities for persons with drug, alcohol, or physical impairments, respite care facilities for persons with terminal illnesses and their families, short-term/emergency housing or long term housing where allowed by this chapter, and child foster homes. The term "transient accommodation uses" does not include a guest house dwelling, when one or both of the sleeping rooms are located as a permitted accessory use within and incidental to the primary residential structure and the primary residential structure is owned by a natural person and occupied by the owner. A use which is otherwise a residential use is not considered a "transient accommodations use" solely because it is occupied by members of the owner's family, a housekeeper or caretaker, or guests who reside on the premises without paying rent or other consideration for such occupancy. The term "transient accommodation uses" does not prohibit the owner of a residential dwelling unit from occupying the dwelling unit as infrequently as the owner may desire."
This document has also been helpful but still leaves the question of when the City code was adopted which I can't find: https://s13026.realeverest.com/uploads/sites/3172/2019/12/Short-Term-Rentals-HANDOUT.pdf
Honestly, there seems to be a lot of conflicting information. Last year we went to St Pete zoning and asked questions and they said "technically not allowed, but only enforced by complaint".
We want to be above the law and yet have many of the same reservations of people above in comments regarding tenancy laws. Anybody have experience with 30+day rentals and know where I can be more informed about tenancy laws?