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Certificate of Use: Inspections

All Short-Term Rental properties in unincorporated Pinellas County must pass a biannual inspection to earn and maintain a Certificate of Use. Before you can schedule an appointment, you must create an account through the Pinellas County Access Portal and submit an application.

Learn more about inspection requirements and view the inspection checklist.

For questions on how to schedule an inspection, contact our STR Support Team at STR-support@pinellas.gov.

For questions about inspection items, contact the County’s Building Development & Review Services Department.

Now Available: Schedule Your Short-Term Rental Inspection Online

Make and manage your inspections and payments in just a few clicks. Access and setup is fast, easy, and available 24/7 through your Pinellas County Access Portal account.

How to Schedule Inspections Online:

  1. Sign into your Pinellas County Access Portal account
  2. Select the “Code Enforce” tab located above the yellow bar
  3. Click on your record number (Your record number is in the format of STR-A-XX-XXXX for applications or STRXX-XXXXX for Certificates of Use).
  4. To schedule, reschedule, or cancel an inspection, select “Record Info” then “Inspections.“

How to Pay Fees and View Receipts:

  1. Sign into your Pinellas County Access Portal account
  2. Select the “Code Enforce” tab located above the yellow bar
  3. Click on your record number (Your record number is in the format of STR-A-XX-XXXX for applications or STRXX-XXXXX for Certificates of Use).
  4. Select “Payment” then “Fees.”

What Inspectors Look For:

  1. Bedrooms (Pinellas County Code, Chapter 22, Article VI, Division 5 – Short-Term Rental)

To qualify as a bedroom:

  • Size: At least 70 square feet for site-built homes or 50 square feet for manufactured homes.
  • Ceiling Height: Minimum of 7 feet.
  • Location: Must be along an exterior wall.
  • Features: Include a closet and a door (or a space where a door can be installed).
  • Egress: Have a window or door that can be used to escape in an emergency, meeting Florida Building Code requirements.​ Visit this page for a summary of egress requirements.

Egress Window Rules for STR Homes

New allowances for permitted replacement windows: 

    • Owners now have up to one year to comply with egress window requirements if the windows are already permitted replacements.

    • Egress windows must meet all safety requirements before your Certificate of Use can be renewed.

Homes built in 1973 or later generally meet egress window requirements. Older homes may need upgrades to meet today’s code.  Click here for more details about emergency escape and rescue openings.

2. Room Sizes (Building & Building Regulations, Section 22-300 – Dwelling Space)

Your rental must have:

  • At least 150 sq ft for the first occupant.
  • An additional 100 sq ft for each extra person.​

Bedrooms must meet the minimum space and height requirements.​

​3. Smoke Alarms (Florida Building Code Section 907.2.11.1)

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom.

  • Outside each sleeping area.
  • On every floor of the home.​

Place them away from kitchens and bathrooms to avoid false alarms. New battery-powered alarms must have a 10-year, nonreplaceable battery.​

3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms (Florida Building Code Section 915)

If your rental property has gas appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage:

  • Install a carbon monoxide alarm within 10 feet of each bedroom.
  • Options include hard-wired or battery-powered alarms, separate devices, or combined with smoke alarms.
  • Ensure all alarms are approved by a national safety testing lab.​

5. Pools (Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, Chapter 515, Section 27)

If your rental property has a pool, it must have at least one of the following safety features: