Pinellas commissioners adopt short‑term rental ordinance, tie egress window checks to Florida Building Code

Pinellas County commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 5 to adopt a county ordinance creating Division 5 of Article 6, Chapter 22 of the Pinellas County Code of Ordinances, establishing rules for short‑term rentals. The ordinance incorporates minimum life‑safety egress requirements reflected in the Florida Building Code, county staff said. "The provision that is being referenced is the egress window requirement within each bedroom, which is requirement of, state statute in the Florida building code," said Kevin McAndrew, director of Building and Development Review Services. McAndrew told commissioners homes built in 1973 or later that received a certificate of occupancy generally meet the requirement; homes built before 1973 may not and will be allowed a one‑year period to comply under a conditional certificate of use. Nut graf: The board framed the ordinance as a way to align local short‑term rental rules with state building‑code life‑safety standards while providing a limited compliance window for older homes. Staff also recommended simplifying a required posting from the full county noise ordinance to a single daily quiet‑hours notice (10 p.m. to 9 a.m.) to make the rule clearer to guests. Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners asked staff to confirm the scope and the origin of the egress requirement and sought clarity that the measure applies only to properties used as short‑term rentals (less than 30 days). Staff reiterated that the requirement is tied to the Florida Building Code and that longer‑term rentals (31 days or more) are not subject to the new short‑term rental provisions. Commissioner Pierce moved approval and Commissioner Flowers seconded; the ordinance passed unanimously. Ending: The board accepted staff suggested language to require a simple posted notice of daily quiet hours and approved the revised ordinance.