In the summer of 2024, Florida governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have given the state more control over short term rental operations ( STR’S ). In 2011, Florida lawmakers passed legislation that would prevent local governments from restricting short term rental operations in their jurisdictions. Later, they amended the laws to allow cities and towns to enact some regulations pertaining to items such as noise and garbage restrictions, but fell short of interfering with the duration of time or frequency guests can stay at a short-term rental property.
This latest bill was seeking to establish statewide occupancy limits, apply mandatory inspections and implement new registration fees. It is important to note that local jurisdictions still do enact certain regulations for short – term rentals in their areas and it is always best to check with them.
Meanwhile, short – term rental lobbying groups are stepping up across both The United States and Canada in an effort to prevent cities and towns from placing more restrictions on vacation rental properties. Growth in short – term rental supply has slowed during 2024 in 17 out of 30 major North American centres, partially due to added restrictions from local governments in response to complaints from residents and advocate groups claiming that the vacation property rental industry is negatively affecting housing affordability and depreciating the quality of neighbourhoods. Some cities that have been cracking down on STR’s are New York, Los Angeles, Montreal and Vancouver.
Restrictions to vacation rental properties aren’t only showing up in North America, as other countries around the world are attempting to crackdown on them as well. For example Barcelona plans to ban apartment rentals to tourists by 2028 in an effort to battle what they claim is the cause of soaring housing costs.
If you’re buying a property to operate a short term rental, always do your due diligence and check with the county, city or town for their short term rental operating rules and regulations.
You can learn more about operating a short term rental in the state of Florida by visiting the Investing In Florida As A Foreign Buyer section of this website.
