By Bryan Boggiano
The city commission voted Wednesday evening on an ordinance that would more strictly regulate vacation rental properties to keep neighborhoods safe.
The development comes as residents, most of who live in Running Brook Hills, complained to the commission that the original code, passed in June 2021, did not go far enough to regulate these properties.
Residents complained about issues related to safety, large private parties with loud music and private security, the proximity of rental properties to sober houses, littered trash, and the declining quality of their neighborhood.
Running Brook Hills residents attended Jan. 5 and Feb. 16 commission meetings to air their grievances with the original ordinance.
In response, members of the commission and city staff met and discussed ways they could tighten vacation rental regulations while still adhering to state law.
In Florida, municipalities cannot ban these properties or prohibit or regulate how long or how often owners can rent out vacation rentals.
The commission unanimously passed the ordinance on its first reading and set the second reading. On the second reading, Running Brook Hills residents again attended the meeting, with most in agreement that the city needed to pass the new ordinance.
One resident, Howard Melamed, said that while neighbors do not need to know everything about renters, there are issues regarding safety and preserving the city’s quality.
“We’re losing complete control over the fabric of Coral Springs and where the city is going,” he said.
Teresa Kaldor said she and her neighbors saw several parties at one rental property, complete with a party truck and 26 vehicles.
One resident, Jennifer Levi, said that she no longer feels safe allowing her three kids to ride their bikes along the street.
“It is fundamentally altering the nature of our neighborhood, and it’s not fair,” she said.
After hearing input from residents, then deliberating on the dais between themselves and city staff, the commission voted in favor of the new ordinance.
New Vacation Rental Ordinance
The new ordinance contains provisions related to registering properties, capacity limits, noise control, safety guidelines, code enforcement, and registration suspension if there is a code violation.
Owners who want to use their unit as a vacation rental must register their property with the city, have a property survey and city-approved floor plan, and sign an agreement with the Coral Springs Police Department.
In all rental properties, the maximum occupancy is 16 registered guests. No more than three unregistered guests are allowed, and no unregistered guests are allowed on a property after 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and after 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The ordinance also sets square footage requirements for bedrooms, requires a logbook for guests with vehicle tag numbers, and requires properties to have a noise-tracking device.
The code also states that the city monitors Airbnb, FlipKey, Booking.com, VRBO, and Tripadvisor weekly.
The penalty system for breaking the new ordinance is progressive. After a second violation, a property owner will lose their registration license for 30 days.
After four violations, it is 365 days, and then 30 more days for each additional offense.
Several vacation rentals in Coral Springs on Airbnb.
Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons said that the issue of vacation rentals is not unique to Coral Springs, but it requires immediate action. He cited multiple articles about outside investors buying properties and converting them to vacation rentals, with little regard for who lives in the neighborhoods.
“We are dealing with a much bigger issue, and it is growing,” said Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons. “What we are doing is protecting the fabric of Coral Springs.”
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Author Profile
- Bryan has a degree in journalism from the University of Florida and earned his masters in geosciences from Florida International University, where he focused in atmospheric sciences. His interests include weather, entertainment, and municipal government.
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