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Riverview

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Riverview, FL

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Riverview, Florida skyline

STR Regulations for Riverview, Florida

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Riverview, FL?

Yes. Short-term rentals (typically defined as rentals of seven days or less) are allowed in Riverview, provided:

  • The property is located in a zoning district that permits transient rental accommodations (commercial or residential zones that allow short-term lodging).
  • You obtain the required state and county business licenses and comply with Florida tax requirements.
  • You adhere to any restrictive covenants from your HOA or condo association.

Hillsborough County does not maintain a separate STR-specific ordinance for unincorporated areas like Riverview. STR activity is governed by:

  • Property zoning (local land-use determination via Hillsborough County Land Development).
  • State licensing (Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation—DBPR).
  • County business licensing (Hillsborough County Tax Collector—Business Tax Receipt).
  • State and county tax obligations (sales tax, local option transient rental taxes).
  • Building safety (Certificate of Balcony Inspection when applicable).

Source: Hillsborough County STR laws summary (Eaton Realty) [1]; iGMS overview of Florida STR laws [3]

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Riverview?

Riverview hosts earn a median $31,183/year with $182 ADR and 62% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $46,668+ per year.

See the full Riverview market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Riverview

  1. Confirm zoning eligibility for transient lodging

    • Contact the Hillsborough County Land Development Office to verify whether your parcel is zoned to permit short-term rentals.
    • If not zoned for transient use, you cannot legally operate an STR; operating in a non-permitted zone can result in fines.

  2. Obtain state lodging license (DBPR)

    • Apply for a DBPR vacation rental license before listing. The license is required if you rent the property for less than 30 days (or one calendar month, whichever is less) more than three times in a calendar year, or hold it out to the public as a short-term rental.
    • Choose the correct license: Condominium (Condo) or Dwelling (Single-family/2–4 unit).
    • Fees vary by license type and size (typical range $150–$350 for single or grouped units).
    • Licenses are annual and renewable.

  3. Obtain county business license (Business Tax Receipt)

    • File for a Hillsborough County Business Tax Receipt online, by mail, or at a Tax Collector dropbox.
    • Include your state DBPR license number on your county application where requested.

  4. Register for taxes and set up remittance processes

    • Register for Florida sales tax and transient rental taxes (includes state sales tax plus county local option taxes).
    • Establish monthly reporting/remittance cycles with the Florida Department of Revenue (state sales and transient rental taxes).

  5. Conduct safety and compliance checks

    • If your property is three or more stories or has a vertical distance of 17+ feet from the lowest grade to any balcony, obtain a Certificate of Balcony Inspection every three years.
    • If you have staff (front desk or housekeeping), provide human trafficking awareness training under DBPR rules.

  6. HOA/Condo review and restrictions

    • Confirm that HOA or condo documents do not prohibit short-term rentals. Many communities impose stricter limits than county/state rules.

  7. Insurance and operations

    • Secure appropriate liability and property coverage for STR operations; standard homeowners insurance may not suffice.

Source: Zoning checks and county licensing (Eaton Realty) [1]; DBPR licensing and safety requirements (iGMS) [3]; County Business Tax Receipt (Hillsborough County) [4]

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • DBPR Vacation Rental License

    • License type: Condo or Dwelling (depending on property classification).
    • Application online via DBPR; fees payable at submission.
    • Annual renewal.
    • Exemption: Renting out a single room or rooms within your primary residence while present typically does not require a DBPR license.
    • Certificate of Balcony Inspection (if applicable): submit every three years for properties three or more stories or with balcony heights 17 feet or more above grade.
    • Human trafficking training documentation if you have employees.

  • Hillsborough County Business Tax Receipt (BTR)

    • Apply online, by mail, or in person; confirm DBPR number during application.
    • Annual renewal.
    • Keep a copy of your BTR and license numbers in your property records.

  • Tax registrations

    • Florida Sales Tax and Transient Rental Taxes registration with the Florida Department of Revenue (DR-1).
    • Monthly filing and remittance of state sales tax and county transient rental taxes.

  • Zoning verification

    • Written confirmation or inquiry response from Hillsborough County Land Development Office on permitted transient use for your parcel.

  • HOA/Condo documentation

    • Recorded restrictions, rules, or bylaws that may limit or prohibit short-term rentals.

Source: DBPR requirements and forms (iGMS) [3]; County BTR (Hillsborough County) [4]; Licensing and zoning overview (Eaton Realty) [1]

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

  • Riverview (unincorporated Hillsborough County)

    • No city-specific STR ordinance. STRs are governed by county zoning and state/county licensing/tax rules.

  • Hillsborough County

    • Zoning controls: Short-term rentals are only permitted in zones that allow transient lodging. Confirm zoning with the Land Development Office.
    • No county-wide ban on STRs; however, violations of zoning or operating without required licenses can result in fines and enforcement actions.
    • Business Tax Receipt required in addition to the DBPR state license.

  • State of Florida

    • Definition: A property is a short-term rental if rented more than three times in a calendar year for stays under 30 days (or one calendar month, whichever is less), or is advertised as available for such stays.
    • DBPR licensing required for most whole-unit rentals meeting the above threshold; renting a single room while present is typically exempt.
    • Certificate of Balcony Inspection required every three years for qualifying structures.
    • Tax obligations include state sales tax (6%) plus local option transient rental taxes (county-specific rates).
    • DBPR maintains a Vacation Rental Transient Lodging Safety Inspection checklist; review for smoke/CO detectors, posted egress plans, and other safety items.

Source: Hillsborough zoning and licensing requirements (Eaton Realty) [1]; Florida STR definitions, licensing, safety, and tax obligations (iGMS) [3]

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

Links to Source Pages

Practical Notes for Investors

  • Due diligence: Always confirm zoning before acquisition; a “good deal” in a non-permitted zone is not a viable STR investment.
  • Compliance cadence: Track annual license renewals (DBPR and BTR), quarterly safety reviews, and the three-year balcony certificate cycle.
  • Taxes: Implement a monthly tax remittance schedule and maintain detailed records of gross receipts and exempt transactions.
  • HOA risk: Even in permitted zones, community covenants can prohibit STRs; obtain and review HOA/condo documents pre-purchase.

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Riverview

Market Saturation Score

036912
Oversaturated
11/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
11–12 declining months: sustained YoY revenue decline - market is oversaturated.
View Full Riverview Market Analysis

Photos of Riverview

Overview of Riverview

Riverview is a sprawling unincorporated community and census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, situated along the Alafia River in the heart of the Tampa Bay region. With a population of roughly 90,000 residents, it has grown rapidly over the past two decades into one of the largest suburban communities in the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metropolitan area. The community has a distinctly suburban, family-oriented character, with master-planned neighborhoods, golf courses, and strip-mall commercial corridors, yet it retains a quieter, more residential feel than the urban core of Tampa, which lies about 15 miles to the northwest. Riverview serves as a convenient gateway to both the urban amenities of the Tampa Bay metro and the natural attractions of the central Gulf Coast.

Just a short drive northwest of Riverview, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is one of the region's marquee draws, combining a major theme park with one of the country's most respected zoos, home to African-themed rides and habitats. The park sits about 15 miles from Riverview, typically a 25- to 30-minute drive depending on traffic. Visitors can also pair a trip there with the adjacent Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, which hosts the annual Florida State Fair, concerts, and expos throughout the year.

To the east of Riverview, Hillsborough River State Park offers a welcome retreat into Old Florida scenery, with hiking and biking trails, a historic suspension bridge, and the rapids of the Hillsborough River flowing through more than 7,000 acres of oak hammock and pine flatwoods. The park entrance is roughly a 25-minute drive from the center of Riverview. Closer still, Little Manatee River State Park lies to the south and provides a quieter alternative, with canoeing, horseback riding, and shaded picnic areas along a slow-moving, blackwater river.

Heading west toward the bay, Apollo Beach is a small waterfront community about 20 minutes from Riverview, where visitors can stroll the boardwalk at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve and watch for shorebirds along Tampa Bay. A bit farther west, the historic Latin enclave of Ybor City in Tampa — about 20 miles from Riverview — invites exploration with its brick streets, century-old cigar factories, and vibrant nightlife just northeast of downtown.

Riverview's appeal as a base for short-term rentals comes from this balance of suburban calm and central access. Guests enjoy spacious, modern accommodations far from the congestion of downtown Tampa, yet they can reach the region's beaches, theme parks, historic districts, and state parks within a half-hour drive in most directions, making it an ideal home base for families and groups exploring the wider Tampa Bay area.

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