Cities, counties are poised to regain some control over Florida's short-term vacation rentals - Sun Sentinel

A bill is coming down the pike that will allow some regulation of short-term rentals by local governments, but not an out right prohibition. This would address some of the consequences of the 2011 passed to prohibit local governments from regulating the practice more so than what was already in their code of ordinances. It seems to be a step in the right direction, but it still comes down to local enforcement. Click title for link to the Sun-Sentinel article.

 "I'm not trying to put vacation rentals out of business; nobody is. It's too valuable to our economy," Thrasher said. "We just want a balance of regulations between the rights of the people who have them and the rights of the people who live around them.''

For instance, Fort Lauderdale would like to consider requiring registration of vacation-rental homes, limiting the number of vehicles and enforcing noise restrictions, Feldman said.

The Senate bill was co-sponsored by a trio of South Floridians: Sobel, D-Hollywood, Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, and Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach.

Sometimes legislation needs to be undone, Ring said.

"Sometimes we don't know the consequences until it's in our face," he said. "We shouldn't be telling the cities of Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale how to handle their vacation rentals. Let the residents of the cities make that decision, it's their homes, it's their communities."