DeSantis Vetoes Controversial Vacation Rental Bill

TALLAHASSEE — SB 280, a controversial bill passed in this year's session, was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this week.  If signed, the bill would have further reduced the scope of the local authority when it comes to regulating short-term rentals, including services like Airbnb and VRBO.

In 2011, Florida lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting local governments from creating ordinances that would restrict vacation rentals. As short-term rental apps exploded, communities pushed back. In 2014, lawmakers answered by amending the law but giving local governments purview only on matters like noise, trash and parking.

"Beyond creating new bureaucratic red tape that locals must comply with, CS/SB 280 prevents local governments from enforcing existing ordinances or passing any new local measure which would exclusively apply to vacation rentals," wrote DeSantis in his veto letter. "Under the bill, any such measure must apply to all residential properties. The effect of this provision will prevent virtually all local regulation of vacation rentals even though the vacation rental markets are far from uniform across the various regions of the state."

 related:

Controversial Short-Term Rental Bill Continues to Linger