By Bryan Boggiano
The city commissioners approved proposed changes to the current vacation rental ordinance on March 16, making further regulations closer to becoming law.
Proposed changes will be discussed again on April 6, and if the second reading of the ordinance passes, vacation rental properties will come under stricter regulations.
The city looked at Running Brook Hills after residents spoke out against vacation rentals at the commission’s January 5 and February 16 meetings.
Julie Krolak, director of development services, said city officials met with neighborhood representatives on January 31 to discuss ways to amend the current ordinance while adhering to state law.
Under Florida law, municipalities cannot place duration or frequency-related restrictions on vacation rentals, nor can they forbid them. The only exception is for cities that enacted them before July 2011. Coral Springs passed its ordinance in 2021.
Krolak said that vacation rentals originally were an issue in coastal cities, but since 2011, the vacation rental industry has evolved. Since then, more properties have emerged outside of those areas.
To address these issues, Krolak discussed how the city proposed updating the current ordinance, including changes in the application requirements, occupancy, noise requirements, safety standards, and code enforcement.
But the proposed changes did not come without questions and concerns.
Commissioner Joy Carter asked Krolak about the 19-person maximum rule, saying that more than 19 people would be on the property at a time for events such as weddings.
Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons agreed with Carter that the commission could adjust the maximum occupancy limit, but he reiterated that safety is the commission’s top priority.
“What we are doing is for the protection of our neighborhoods,” Simmons said. “Unfortunately, we are now having to deal with issues that could continue to proliferate throughout the city.”
Resident Joe Morero expressed concerns about reporting ordinance violations.
Monica Hands, director of Broward, Palm Beaches, and St. Lucie Realtors, recommended the city commission temporarily delay the proposed changes so that the organization could collaborate with city officials and have a consensus on the ordinance.
Hands said regulations that are too tight would take away revenue from the county and that they can reduce the values of the surrounding properties. She cited studies from the University of Central Florida and Colorado to support her arguments.
In response, the commission discussed meeting with the realtors association before their April 6 meeting and possibly changing the proposed ordinance.
Simmons moved to approve the ordinance. The commission voted 4-0 (Commissioner Nancy Metayer was absent) in favor of the vacation rental regulations.
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