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INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla., (WFLA) – Indian Rocks Beach city commissioners are expected to vote on an ordinance that could change short-term rental rules.
There has been back and forth on this topic in the city for more than a decade.
The ordinance to roll back on the regulations passed the first reading in January but needs to pass a second reading before it can go into effect.
Indian Rocks Beach is no stranger to the controversy over short-term rentals.
“I found the regulations to be definitely a bit of a hassle,” said Diane Daniel, who rents out her home.
“It’s out of hand; it is out of control,” said someone who spoke out at the meeting in January.
Two years ago, restrictions were put into place in the area due to neighbors complaining about things like noise and traffic.
“I felt it wasn’t particularly owner-ish. I did have to do some things. I had to hardwire some things some lighting and I have a very small house, and I had to put an exit sign in my living room which I found to be a bit overkill, but on the other hand, it’s like okay, whatever,” Daniel said.
Some regulations could be rolled back to include an occupancy of 12 instead of 10 if there is space. Along with removing language about taking away, or suspending, the short-term rental license.
Since 2011, some lawmakers have been trying to give the state more control over these rentals but have gotten pushback.
Governor DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have erased local regulation of vacation rental properties.
This agenda item is on the table because of a multi-million-dollar lawsuit filed because of a property bought in 2021.
“At that time, with what you would call under the law, the investment-backed expectations of the purchaser were that you could rent the property as we had been. Fast forward to 2023, when this ordinance that we’ve challenged was enacted, it eviscerated that right, right? That property right that existed. And that’s the basis of it,” said attorney, Rhett C. Parker.
The future of the short-term rental regulations lies in the hands of the city commissioners. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11.