SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — City leaders in Sarasota voted 4-1 Monday to expand short-term vacation rental regulations citywide that, up until the change, only impacted vacation rental properties on the city’s barrier islands.
After the initial ordinance passed a few years back, commissioners said they heard from residents on the city’s mainland who were dealing with similar issues such as late night parties, excess noise, littered streets and parking on sidewalks.
“It is Gillespie, it is Arlington, it is Alta Vista, it is Laurel Park, it is the Indian Beach Sapphire Shores neighborhood, it is central Cocoanut, it is Bayou Oaks. It is happening all over the city,” Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch said.
“The loss of the neighborhood feel continues,” said Kelly Brown, who lives in the city. “I used to know all of the neighbors on my street. Now, it is somebody different every weekend. They don’t even clean up their dog’s waste, they leave that for everybody else to do. This is not a hotel. This is our neighborhood, this is where we live, this is what we call home so I am super excited that the city commissioners decided to expand the vacation rental ordinance citywide.”
The ordinance amendment will impact around 700 additional short-term vacation rentals, according to Ahearn-Koch.
The new fee structure is will cost rental owners $500 for the initial application and $350 for renewals. The costs will cover both inspections and enforcement.
City officials say this ordinance will not impact owner-occupied short-term rentals, where the owner lives on property and is present during the guest’s visit.
