Update from the Codes Compliance Department: a case has been opened and is being investigated for this reported location. Any further updates or action will be handled by the Codes department. To track the status of this case, or to find contact information for the assigned investigator, click here:

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=17&caseNumber=16076

or call 727-893-7373 and refer to the above case number.

Codes Compliance 6 assigned this issue to Rob G

The City of St. Petersburg will be sued via class action in that they are illegally receiving Airbnb funds through revenue sharing and still threatening and fining individual homeowners on a selective basis. Pinellas County has agreed upon allowing Airbnb to operate as long as appropriate taxes are collected. Pinellas county is cashing a 75,000-125,000 Airbnb check every month and many or most of these funds are coming from Airbnb's operating in the city of st. pete. Once the county receives the funds they revenue share and the city of st. pete is the biggest beneficiary of those funds. You only have two choices. 1. Return all of the funds you have received from Airbnb and shut it down completely OR leave homeowners alone in non-deed restricted neighborhoods. Neighbors that are being nosy scrape up some funds and move to a country club. If you are willing to tell on a neighbor then agree to reprimand the city for committing fraud.

So is it legal OR illegal for an Airbnb in the city limits of Saint Petersburg???

No and yes, but that is the problem.

The city is having its cake and eating it too. I purchased a lot in The City and have every intention to build and make it a vacation rental. So I will put in time, energy, effort, and resources so that I can see my long-term investment through and that means rallying support for those falling victim to The City of St. Pete being two faced.

So if I vote fix, does that change the city or the owner???

I have no clue what voting to fix does or who it favors. I just know this is local Government bullying and it will be PUBLICIZED and litigated. The City should be honest and tell the truth to the neighbor above who complained that hey are utilizing Airbnb funds therefore can't enforce the old code as the deal between Pinellas and Airbnb now supercedes.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/pinellas-cities-seek-state-help-with-short-term-rentals/2280953

See the article above. In 2014 short term rentals had a 31 billion dollar economic impact. This is a tourist driven state and if you don't like it...move to a different state. It is "legal" to rent a home out for 30 days (three times a year) or 6 months or of course for a year. But this neighbor above who initiated this complaint is acting like someone who rents for 30 days or 6 months or a One year can't be a nuisance. I've glad the address is on the thread because I'm going to contact the home owner and if The City stops her I will rent her place out for 6 months and this neighbor that complained better get ready because now instead of having a family there for 2 days or 5 days who is contributing to the states economy you will have me who will push the limits of the code to the max for 6 months and trust me....I will tip toe the line until neighbors and the city stop trying to police others property. Notice...in the complaint....its just an issue with airbnb. There was no mention of noise or some other violation.

Dear Not Nosy... I have some very nice Concert Speakers that could be available.

Class Action lawsuit against city of St. Petersburg is on the way for having your cake and eating it too. You are receiving revenue from Airbnb through "Revenue Sharing" because it's public that Pinellas County has come to an agreement with Airbnb. The county receives the funds from Airbnb...then the county revenue shares with the cities in the county and the city of St. Pete is the biggest beneficiary of the revenue sharing. Roser Park is not a deed restricted neighborhood so people need to stop policing it like it is...all of the non deed restricted neighborhoods need to be left alone....OR...return all of the funds Pinellas County has received from Airbnb. It's simple.....return all of that revenue or leave homeowners alone. And for the nosy neighbors policing move your @#$% to a deed restricted neighborhood or country club.

The problem is that it is legal and illegal. The City of St. Petersburg is tiring the line. They are using the Airbnb funds because of the recent "agreement" made with Airbnb and at the same time shutting Airbnb's down only if a neighbor complains. So the codes department unwritten secret rule is that they don't shut down the Airbnb's that no one complains about even though they know they exist...because approximately $100,000 a month is coming in from Airbnb Per month...but if a neighbor complains then they single that home out. What is definitely illegal is The City using that money on one hand and on the other citing and threatening certain home owners. They actually know every Airbnb that exist and can shut all of them down and return ALL of the revenue. They shouldn't though because we are a damn tourist state and all Airbnb's pay same occupant tax as hotels. Plus people that stay in Airbnb's go shopping, visit museums, go to theme parks, etc. I'm appalled and I won't stop until the fraud being committed by the City of St. Pete is EXPOSED.

SO... If the City begins taxing the "Independent Pharmaceutical Representatives" that operate on the street corners of South Saint Pete, does that make them legit to operate? Since the Police have been directed 'Not to interfere' with these things... Why don't the city just tax them? "If you can't beat them, join them". Didn't the liberal mayor declare Saint Pete a Sanctuary City? So let's have Illegal residents, Illegal drugs, Felons wanted elsewhere... NOW That would make our city much more 'Diversified'. (Total Sarcasm Intended)

Sarcasm recognized and welcomed!!!

We are a small, historic neighborhood. Residents live here because it's a residential area. In the last six months, the character of our street has changed completely due to two houses operating as nightly motels. There are as many as six cars at one location, taking all street parking up (this is a neighborhood built before carports and garages). Why is it fair for you to come in and make money running a motel in a residential neighborhood? It isn't. The legislature voted down short-term rentals, and the city is citing them for code and zoning violations. Every air bnb in Roser Park will be reported and pursued until they stop disrupting the neighborhood. This isn't being a nosy neighbor, it's being a good neighbor. We have no problem with legal long-term rentals,

And to be perfectly clear, Air BnB, VRBO etc. are short term rentals and are illegal. It's the perogative of a neighborhood to report them. When they became disruptive, our neighborhood took action..

St. Pete has evolved into a progressive City. "Roser Park" your stance is not progressive. This neighborhood is non-deed restricted. Stop acting like its some exclusive precious gem. It's mostly a dump. The Alley ways are poorly kept and their are weeds everywhere. Two houses haven't caused this mess....most of the houses and people in Roser have.

I think its time to visit Roser with my camera, pen, and pad and document ALL of the Code Violations and make these city employees even more busy because there are a lot of Code Violations going on in Roser beyond Airbnb. I will start this weekend.

The issue that you reported previously has been addressed by the City, and this open work order is now closed. Please feel free to submit future requests to us via SeeClickFix St. Pete, and thanks again!