Before doing business in St. Petersburg, you will need a Business Tax Certificate Receipt (Formerly "Occupational License Tax"). This is an annual business tax for all businesses. professionals, independent contractors and individuals who accept compensation for merchandise or services who are located in the city limits of St. Petersburg.
A good place to start is the Business Tax Division. 727-893-7241. This office is an agency of the city of St. Petersburg's Billing and Collections Department and provides Business certificate receipts for more than 400 business classifications. These classifications have different requirements, as well as different costs.
- If you are a contractor and wish to pull permits in St. Petersburg, you will need to register your business with the Construction Services andPermitting Department 727-893-7231.
- If you do work on a structure, or any repairs, additions or alterations to a structure, Licenses/registration are first required from the State of Florida and/or Pinellas County.
Business Location
If your business is located inside the city of St. Petersburg, you are required to possess a city of St. Petersburg Business Tax Certificate Receipt .Your first step should be to determine whether or not your business is located within the city limits of St. Petersburg, which can be done through the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's Office. You may also call them at (727) 582-7652. If the answer is "yes", then you will need a city of St. Petersburg Business Tax Certificate Receipt .
Exceptions: A St. Petersburg Business Tax Certificate Receipt is required for the following business activities regardless of the business address: mobile and temporary businesses, vehicles for hire and insurance companies.
Commercial Locations
A certificate of occupancy from the Construction and Permitting Department may be required. Please contact them at 727-893-4220.
Application - Commercial Locations
Home-Based Businesses
When using your home as a business address, there is a one-time application fee of $10.00. This is in addition to your Business Tax Certificate Receipt fee. Application - Home Occupation
Peddlers / Mobile Vending Vehicles
(ex. Ice Cream Trucks, Meat Trucks etc.) A permit from our police department is required if you wish to peddle by selling merchandise/ products as you go door-to-door/ business-to-business, you are required to obtain our Business Tax Certificate Receipt. For more details view the Solicitor / Peddler / Canvasser application that contains further instructions.
Application and Related Forms:
Application - Commercial Locations Application - Handyman Type Service Application - Home Occupation 
Application - Fortune Teller Application - Solicitor - Peddler - Mobile Vending - Canvasser Application - Real Estate Application - Private Instructor (Recreation Centers) Application - Apartment Rental Units (Less than Four) Application - Apartment Rental Units (Five Or More) Application - Vehicle for Hire
Disabled Veteran Exemption Form Exempt By Statute, Exemption Form Exemption Form - OA, LB, HC Merchant Affidavit Worksheet Out Of Business Affidavit Worksheet Private Instructor Business Tax Worksheet Form Employee Worksheet Business Information Sheet State Statute
Chapter 205 ( flsenate.gov/Statutes) BTX City Code
Municode Chapter 17 (http://library.municode.com/HTML/14674/level2/PTIISTPECO_CH17LITAMIBURE.html#TOPTITLE) Article IV - Local Business Taxes
Ordinance - Motorized Non-Gas Vehicles Ordinance - Nitrogen and/or Phosphorus Fertilizers
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