Short-term rentals were approved by City Commission earlier in the year and the new city ordinance came into effect on July 1.
Under the new home-sharing ordinance, residents are now allowed to host guests in a portion of their residence, within all residential zoning districts for periods of 30 days or less. The rented portion of the home has to be 50 percent or less of the total number of bedrooms in the home and there can only be one booking at a time, with the resident living on-site and present during the stay.
The city believed that by requiring homeowners to be present during the booking, they could reduce the potential for noise and traffic congestion, as well as ensure that investors wouldn’t purchase homes to be used for short-term rentals versus long-term residents.
The city has offered a grace period through October 1 for residents interested in participating in home sharing to register their properties, which they can do on the city’s newly launched Beta Website HERE.
Failure to register your home would result in code violations and/or penalty fees, so it’s important to adhere to the restrictions of the ordinance mentioned above as well as including proof of Home Sharing Registration with any online advertising.
