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Indian Rocks Beach residents speak out on possible changes to short-term rental rules

By and
Updated  August 28, 2024 6:12am EDT
Pinellas County
FOX 13 News

Indian Rocks Beach short-term rental discussion

Commissioners in Indian Rocks Beach heard from residents on potentially loosening rules on short-term rentals in the area.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. - It was a packed house on Tuesday night inside Indian Rocks Beach City Hall as commissioners heard arguments over its existing short-term rental rules.

Passionate homeowners and about a dozen or so short-term rental owners made their voices heard at the workshop, speaking one-by-one on the regulations they face. 

Indian Rocks Beach might loosen rental rules

Commissioners in Indian Rocks Beach will consider loosening regulations on short-term rentals as the city is being met with pending lawsuits.

The meeting was motivated by seven pending lawsuits against the city, all sparked by the vacation rental ordinance. The existing rules call for things like registration with the state, rental inspections, restrictions on occupancy, and tight regulations regarding rental suspensions and revocation. 

READ: Indian Rocks Beach leaders urge DeSantis to veto vacation rental bill

 "I'm still a believer in freedom," one rental owner said. "I bought that house. If I want to rent that house I should be able to do it."

Pictures from homeowners show what they say is changing the makeup of Indian Rocks Beach vacationers overcrowding homes and parking in yards.

"We've had underage drinking, credit cards stolen, prostitution, renters yelling at the neighbors," one homeowner said.

The rental owners behind the lawsuits likely stand to gain from the loosening of these regulations, but it's homeowners that really brought the issue to the forefront in Indian Rocks Beach. 

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"All we want is the citizens to be happy and the short-term rental owners and short-term rental clients to be responsible and reasonable, and they're not going to be if they don't have to be. They're just not," one homeowner said.

Among the changes would include a higher occupancy rate by requiring homes to have a certain number of "habitable living spaces" instead of "bedrooms" like before. For example, a pull couch in a living room would now qualify.

"This is a brand-new term. It is not part of the Florida Building Code and the term should not be incorporated in a revision of the Indian Rocks Beach ordinance," another homeowner said.

Another change would no longer allow the city to suspend or revoke a vacation rental license after multiple violations.

"I do think there's an obligation by renters like me to do a good job to do what's right and there are a couple bad culprits that make us all look bad. I don't want that to weigh on your decisions here. A lot of us do a really great job and make people happy around here," a short-term rental owner said.

The new proposed rules will still need a first and second reading before commissioners can hold a final vote.