St. Petersburg City Code Chapter 17 and 28 requires each public vehicle and their driver's to comply with and obtain the following:
- Public Vehicle Certificate
- Driver's Permit (a.k.a.Hack License) (City Code Sec. 28-6)
- Proof Of Vehicle Insurance (Certificate Of Liability)
- Business Tax Receipt (City Code Sec.17-123)
Who needs a Public Vehicle Certificate?
All public vehicles used for the transportation for hire of up to 29 passengers including the driver where new fares begin within St. Petersburg City limits. (City Code Sec. 28-1)
- Taxicabs
- Vans
- Limousines
- Non-Motorized Vehicles
- Non-Public Sector Buses.
- Motorized Non-Gasoline Powered Vehicles - (which operate in the same manner as a taxicab but may or may not charge a fee to new fares).
Where Do I Place My Public Vehicle Certificate? 
Each public vehicle owner shall have permanently affixed to the "public vehicle" a valid public vehicle certificate which shall be located on the driver's side of the vehicle on the lateral face of the bumper, trunk lid, or rear window and shall be visible from the exterior of the vehicle.
(Click on the image for an example). (City Code Sec. 28-4)
If A Vehicle Doesn't Have A Certificate
Every officer, agent, or employee of any corporation, and every other person who violates or fails to comply with or who procures, aids, or abets in the violation of any provision of City Code shall be guilty of a municipal ordinance violation and may have a penalty enforced upon said person. A person convicted of a violation of this Article shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00, imprisonment, not exceeding 90 days or by any combination thereof. With respect to violations that are continuous, each day the violation continues is a separate offense. (City Code Sec. 28-2)
Resources and Applications
- Application for Public Vehicle Certificate
- Application for Additional Public Vehicle Certificates
- Application for Temporary Use Public Vehicle Certificate
- Application for Transfer Public Vehicle Certificate
- Application for Public Vehicle Drivers (a.k.a.Hack License)
Filed with The St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) - Drivers Manifest and Conduct Requirements (City Code Sec. 28-5)
- Regulations and Standards for Public Vehicles (City Code Sec. 28-3)