Florida Legislature Approves Legislation to Unify Regulations for Temporary Housing Rentals

Florida's Senate passes SB 280, establishing uniform short-term rental standards to prevent price gouging, ensure 24/7 complaint handling, and set occupancy limits.

The Florida State Senate has approved a new legislation aimed at establishing uniform standards for short-term rentals across the state, addressing concerns over potential price exploitation by vacation rental platforms and implementing additional regulations.

Titled SB 280 and championed by Senator Nick DiCeglie, the legislation received a vote of 27-13 in favor on February 1. Spectrum Bay News 9 reports that the bill mandates all owners of short-term rentals to register and pay a fee, ensure the availability of a contact person for grievance resolution around the clock, and specify a limit on the number of occupants allowed. Moreover, it grants local authorities the power to revoke registrations for breaches of local laws.

Before this legislation, the regulation of short-term rentals varied significantly from one locality to another, leading to complications for both the property owners and their guests. The state of Florida has been deliberating on this issue since 2011.

Senator DiCeglie highlighted in a statement to Spectrum Bay News 9 that while not every community imposes regulations on vacation rentals, there should be a uniform approach for those that do. He emphasized that the bill seeks to establish a standardized system for the registration of vacation rentals, aimed at preventing price gouging through the establishment of reasonable fees for registration and inspection, and ensuring the presence of a dedicated individual to address any complaints or emergencies.