267,102
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 sub-county estimates (sub-est2024.csv), July 1, 2024
Pinellas CountyCity of St. Petersburg Business Tax Division (no Pinellas County BTR)
St. Petersburg business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
St. Petersburg has about 267,000 residents and is the largest city in Pinellas County, near Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park and Tampa across the bay. Starting here takes one less step than in most Florida cities. Pinellas County repealed its county occupational license in 1995, so you only need the City of St. Petersburg Business Tax Receipt. The city has separate application forms for different business types, including commercial locations. Download the right form, then email it to license@stpete.org, mail it to P.O. Box 2842, or drop it off at the Business Tax Division at One 4th St. N. If your work needs a state license, include proof with the application. Receipts must be renewed by September 30, and online renewal uses the license number and PIN printed on your renewal notice.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg has an estimated 267,102 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024), ranking #5 among Florida's incorporated places. It sits in Pinellas County, and businesses here file with the same state office as everywhere else in Florida: the Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
How to start a business in St. Petersburg: LLC, corporation or PLLC
State filing fees are the same everywhere in Florida. See the full cost and steps in our Start a Business in Florida guide.
St. Petersburg business license FAQs
Do I need a St. Petersburg business license (business tax receipt)?
Yes. St. Petersburg issues a city business tax receipt through its Business Tax Division. Pinellas County has no county receipt.
Is a St. Petersburg occupational license the same as a business tax receipt?
Yes. Florida law renamed the old occupational license the local business tax in 2006, so a business tax receipt, an occupational license and a local business license all mean the same thing in Florida (Chapter 205, Florida Statutes).
How much does it cost to form a business in St. Petersburg?
Sunbiz state fees are the same anywhere in Florida: $125 for an LLC or PLLC and $70 for a corporation. Local business tax receipts are separate.
Which county is St. Petersburg in?
Pinellas County.
Should my St. Petersburg business be an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC?
Most small businesses choose an LLC for its simple management and pass-through taxes. A corporation suits owners who plan to issue stock or bring in investors. A PLLC is for state-licensed professionals such as doctors, lawyers and CPAs. All three file with Sunbiz: $125 for an LLC or PLLC and $70 for a corporation.