The City of Sarasota City Commission has voted to expand regulations on vacation rental homes within the city limits.
History of Vacation Rental Regulations in the City of Sarasota
In May of 2021, the City Commission passed Ordinance 21-5353, which amended the City of Sarasota Code to add requirements for properties operating as vacation rentals (also called short-term rentals) within the Coastal Islands Overlay District. The Coastal Islands Overlay District includes St. Armand’s Key, Coon Key, Bird Key, Otter Key, Lido Key, and portions of Siesta Key. Several requirements were adopted and implemented, including the requirement that all properties operating as vacation rentals must obtain a Certificate of Registration (“Certificate of Registration”) from the City of Sarasota. Therefore, to obtain the Certificate of Registration, property owners must complete an application and provide details about the property, such as interior and exterior sketches, designation of a responsible party, copy of required state licenses, sample lease agreement, and more. In addition, Ordinance 21-5353 provided for a seven-day minimum stay and set maximum occupancy limits based on the number of bedrooms.
Expansion of Vacation Rental Regulations in the City of Sarasota
City residents have expressed a growing concern about vacation rentals in other neighborhoods within the city limits. In response, on February 4, 2024, the City Commission Adopted Ordinance 24-5506, which expanded the prior Ordinance so that the requirements apply to all properties within the city limits that are operating as vacation rentals. All properties operating as vacation rentals within the City of Sarasota must obtain a Certificate of Registration and comply with all requirements. The city will start accepting applications for vacation rentals on the mainland on July 1, 2024. Vacation rentals within the city limits operating without a valid Certificate of Registration after January 1, 2025, will violate the City Code and face penalties. The city commission estimates that the ordinance will impact approximately 700 additional vacation rental properties.
Finally, the new ordinance increased the registration fees for new applications to $500.00 and increased the fee for renewals to $350.00.
If you have any questions regarding these changes or other vacation rental regulations, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local real estate attorney.
