Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores Condos: A Building Guide

Updated October 2026.

The short answer: Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores sit next to each other on the middle Pinellas beaches, and both are among the more rental-friendly towns on the coast. Indian Rocks Beach allows vacation rentals with city registration. The Town of Indian Shores says it has no rental restrictions. In both towns, the condo association usually sets the real limit, and building minimums we found range from one week to one month.

We are John and Nicole Kavaliauskas, licensed Florida Realtors with LoKation Real Estate. For each town itself, see our Indian Rocks Beach guide and our Indian Shores guide.

How condos here differ

Two towns, one ZIP code

Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores are separate municipalities with separate rules, but buildings in both share the 33785 ZIP code. Agent directories sometimes list the same building under both towns. Before you rely on any rental or permit rule, confirm which town the parcel is in on the Pinellas County Property Appraiser record.

Gulf-front and Intracoastal

Most of the buildings in the table below are Gulf-front, with beach access and Gulf views. A smaller group sits on the Intracoastal side with water views, docks, or fishing piers instead of sand. Gulf-front units generally cost more to buy and insure.

Building ages

Agent directories show a wide range here, from Barefoot Beach Resort, listed as built in 1961, to boutique Gulf-front buildings from 2005 to 2012 such as Scopello and Da Vinci. Older buildings call for a close look at inspections, reserves, and repair history.

Rental rules by town

Indian Rocks Beach

The City of Indian Rocks Beach vacation rental page says the city commission adopted Short-Term Rental Ordinance 2023-02 on May 9, 2023, effective August 1, 2023. The city lists these fees effective October 1, 2026:

• New or renewal registration: $600, with an added $200 for late renewal
• Inspection: $150; re-inspection: $75
• Business tax receipt: $25.50 new, $10.50 renewal

The city also requires a state lodging license, Florida sales tax registration, and the Pinellas County tourist development tax, which the city lists at 6%, plus a fire safety inspection. The city offers a separate condo vacation rental registration application. Owner-occupied or homestead properties can be exempt by affidavit. The Pinellas Realtor Organization summary (updated January 2025) says short-term vacation rentals are permitted in all residential zoning districts in the city.

Indian Shores

The Town of Indian Shores FAQ states that the town does not have rental restrictions and directs people to their condo association. The Pinellas Realtor Organization summary says the same. State licensing and tax rules for transient rentals still apply. Confirm current requirements with the town clerk.

For both towns and their neighbors, see our Pinellas beaches short-term rental rules guide.

Notable condo buildings

Year built, unit counts, and rental minimums come from agent building directories and listing records. We list only what we could source. Confirm everything with the association documents.

Building	Address	Setting	Notes and source
Fifty Gulfside	50 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach	Gulf-front, south end of the city	Built 1972; three stories, per an agent building page (lipplyrealestate.com)
Bella Capri	604 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach	Gulf-front	Built 2009; 2 and 3 bedrooms (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Reflections on the Gulf	900 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach	Gulf-front, across from the Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve	Built 1981; 84 units; 2 week minimum rental listed (mygulfcoastproperty.com, homes.com)
Da Vinci	940 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach	Gulf-front	Built 2012; 21 units, 4 floors (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Reef Club	1000 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach	Gulf-front	Built 1983; 55 units; described as having a liberal rental policy (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Scopello	2200 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach	Gulf-front boutique	Built 2005; 18 units, 4 floors (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Driftwood Sands	2618 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach	Gulf-front, north end of the city	Built 1982; 46 units, 5 floors; 1 month minimum rental listed (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Beach Cottage	18400 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores	Gulf-front	1 to 3 bedrooms; one week minimum rental listed; no pets (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Beach Palms	18450 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores	Gulf-front	Built 1991; 64 units, 5 floors; 1 week minimum rental listed; no pets (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Holiday Villas III	18610 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores	Gulf-front, with a fishing pier and boat slips on the Intracoastal side	84 units, 8 stories; year built listed as 1983 or 1974 depending on source (homes.com, listing records)
Barefoot Beach Resort	19417 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores	Intracoastal, across from beach access	Built 1961; 170 units; 1 to 7 day minimum listed; no pets (mygulfcoastproperty.com)
Sand Castle I, II and III	20000, 20002 and 20040 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores	Gulf-front, three buildings	Built 1974, 1979 and 1981; 150 units; 1 week minimum rental listed (mygulfcoastproperty.com)

Sources for the table: the Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores condo directories and building pages at mygulfcoastproperty.com, the Fifty Gulfside page at lipplyrealestate.com, and building pages at homes.com.

What to check before you buy

• Association rental rules. A liberal city or town rule does not mean a liberal building. Read the declaration and rules for minimum stays, rentals per year, and approval steps.
• Registration and taxes. In Indian Rocks Beach, ask whether the unit holds a current city vacation rental registration. In either town, ask for the state license and tax account history if the seller rents the unit.
• Inspections, reserves, and SIRS. Ask for the milestone inspection, the structural integrity reserve study, the budget, and any special assessments. Our condo inspections, reserves and SIRS guide lists what to request.
• Flood and insurance. Get the master policy, the elevation certificate, and your own HO-6 and flood quotes before you write an offer. Our flood zones and insurance guide explains the basics.
• Storm repair status. Ask for 24 months of board minutes, the status of any insurance claims from the 2024 hurricane season, and open permits.

Own a condo here?

We can show you recent sales in your building and what buyers ask about right now. See our Indian Rocks Beach home value and Indian Shores home value pages, request a home valuation, or call (727) 955-1222.

Looking to buy?

Tell us your budget, Gulf or Intracoastal preference, and rental plans, and we will narrow the list. Contact us for current listings and recent sales in any building.

This page is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Building details come from third-party directories and listing records and may be incomplete or out of date. City, town, and association rules change; verify current rental, pet, and approval rules with the City of Indian Rocks Beach, the Town of Indian Shores, and the condo association, and consult your insurer, lender, and attorney before you buy. Team Beachside, John and Nicole Kavaliauskas, LoKation Real Estate, (727) 955-1222.