Owners ordered to end illegal short-term listings or face fines; two properties given until Aug. 10

The Clearwater Code Enforcement Board on July 23 ordered property owners of two listings that appeared on short-term rental platforms to bring their properties into compliance with local rental rules by Aug. 10 or face daily fines.

John Stevens, a co-compliance inspector for the city, told the board that 512 South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 1122 Brownell Street were advertised online with stays shorter than the 31-day minimum the city requires to avoid classification as a short-term rental. Compliance steps the board accepted included changing published minimum stays to 31 days, deleting online listings, or renting only by monthly or annual lease through a broker. Stevens also noted that one property had recently applied for a business tax receipt but had not completed necessary information on the application.

At the hearing Marcus Picunia, who identified himself as the owner of 512 South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, told the board he would change his online listing immediately to meet the city’s rules. For the property at 1122 Brownell Street, staff reported no contact with the owner; the board ordered compliance by Aug. 10 and authorized fines if the violations persist.

The board’s orders set a $250 per-day fine for each day an illegal short-term rental listing remains active. For the property lacking a residential rental business tax receipt the board also specified a $50 per-day fine for the business-tax violation. Inspectors said compliance is established when listings are adjusted to a minimum of 31 days or removed and when a residential rental business tax receipt is properly applied for and issued.

Stevens told the board a previous courtesy notice had been issued in late April and that the city posted formal notices after online checks in late May found the properties still listed for short stays. Stevens presented screenshots from the rental platforms showing minimum stays of two nights and later five to seven nights before the cases were posted for enforcement.

The board voted to find the respondents in violation and entered orders requiring correction by Aug. 10, 2025, with the penalties noted above. Board members and staff emphasized that a correct and complete business tax receipt is required if the owner intends to operate longer-term rentals legally.