In anticipation of a short-term rental program that is due to start on October 1st, 2023 in Longboat Key, rental property owners are being informed that they need to start scheduling town inspections of their properties as soon as they are able to do so in order to make the deadline periods; town commissioners passed the new program unanimously last week.
However, it appears that the ordinance governing the short-term rental program still has a few kinks to be worked out, as both town commissioners and Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan questioned several aspects of it, including an obvious omission of rules covering occupancy standards, which is common for these types of programs.
However, Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons noted that a short-term rental program that changes too many of the rules that the town already has on the books could have negative consequences upon the town’s grandfathered status, which could potentially rob them of their ability to regulate the industry within its borders.
“Registration programs like those in the jurisdictions north of us are dealing with short-term rentals like weekly rentals where occupancy is a much bigger issue,” he said. “We wanted to stay out of modifying anything that had to do with how we regulate short-term rentals…We’re not modifying anything the town has had on its books since at least 1982.”
Another issue, according to Mayor Ken Schneier, is the town’s ability to get the over 1000 rental property owners that are known to exist within Longbow Key to put out the effort to actually register with the short-term rental program. However, Parsons said that he doesn’t expect that to be an issue.
“I think we have a high confidence level because all of the rentals that are taking place in the town today should have a business tax receipt,” Parsons said.
Longboat Key short term rental program will allow the town to regulate properties within its jurisdiction that are rented out to vacationers and tourists for a period of six months or less. Participating renters are required to pay a $200 fee to cover the cost of an official certificate – which contains the owner’s phone number, certification verification, and safety information – that must be displayed in the home in question, in addition to covering the costs of inspections of their property conducted by town employees.
The short-term rental program also establishes a series of rules and protocols that renters must abide by, including parking, noise ordinances, waste disposal, and more.
Florida Gulf Residential specializes in the areas of Sarasota, Siesta Key, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Venice, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Anna Maria Island and other Gulf Coast communities. Feel free to give us a call at (941) 304-1975 so we can answer any questions you may have.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® and reports for independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening on the West Coast of Florida on behalf of FLORIDA GULF RESIDENTIAL – Your Real Estate Expert for Sarasota and Surrounding Areas.
