Since the popularity of Airbnb and similar short-term rental platforms have skyrocketed, communities like St. Johns County have been struggling to catch up.
Joseph Cearley, special projects manager for St. Johns County growth management, said the county is currently working toward developing a few possible ordinances in an effort to regulate the growth of short-term rentals, if that is, the state doesn’t roadblock them first.
Recently, a Florida Senate committee approved a proposal that would take power away from the cities and counties to regulate vacation rental properties. The bill would preempt any ordinances of counties to the state’s legislation. Regardless of the possible quashing, however, Cearley has developed two directions for the ordinances that will be decided for approval by the commission on March 17.
Cearley said the meeting will vote on which direction for regulation the county wants to go. The possible ordinances mainly favor noise mitigation, occupancy and parking regulations. Cearley said the county does not intend to include restrictions for owner occupied units, however.
“Property owners are upset about living next to these ‘party houses,’ is what they're calling them,” Cearley said. “They have a lot of people coming in parking all up and down the road, either trashing the place or being loud.”
Although the possible ordinances would regulate short-term rentals, Cearley said they aren’t overly restrictive — with one variation maxing household occupancy at 16 people.
"It’s nothing too major," Cearley said.
The city of St. Augustine, however, has recently passed its own version of restrictions in late January that greatly restricts short-term rentals, causing many complaints from rental owners and agencies. The ordinance claims a $400 permit fee, one off-street parking spot per bedroom and a seven-day minimum stay for rentals within certain zones.
The county’s laws would not conflict with the city of St. Augustine, as it is annexed. Cearley said St. Johns County cannot regulate frequency of duration (how long a guest stays) or stop anyone from registering a rental due to a prior state law prohibiting that type of regulation. The city, however, cited a much older law that was in place before the state’s law changed. Currently, the House Bill 1011 and Senate Bill 1128, if passed at the state level, would preempt both the city’s and county’s laws.
For anyone interested in contributing their feedback to the development of St. Johns County’s ordinances on short term vacation rentals, or receive email updates on the matter, email Joseph Cearley at jcearley@sjcfl.us.
