The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-1 on July 28 to reject a proposed ordinance that would have created new local regulations for short-term rental properties, commonly known as Airbnbs and VRBOs. The vote came during the first hearing on the ordinance’s second revision, and commissioners confirmed the matter will not return for a second reading.
Commissioners cited existing state law as a primary reason for rejecting the measure. Florida Statute 509 already requires short-term rental operators to register with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which also handles fire and building safety inspections. State law prohibits local governments from banning, restricting, or regulating the duration of occupancy for these rentals. Counties are also barred from restricting rentals based on zoning, spacing, or property proportions.
Commissioner Ryan Amsler described the proposed ordinance as “creating a mini-DBPR,” noting it would have required property owners to register with the County by providing proof of their state registration and documentation of fire and building inspections. The ordinance also would have routed violations of fire and building codes to DBPR rather than handling them at the county level. Development Services Planning Director Omar DePablo estimated the county would need two dedicated code enforcement officers to manage violations and deficiencies under the new rules, adding staffing costs to the concerns raised by commissioners.
Commissioners across the board agreed that layering additional local regulations on top of existing state oversight ran counter to conservative principles of limited government. Local short-term rental property owners who attended the July 28 meeting cheered the outcome. Hernando County already has ordinances addressing noise, traffic, and parking complaints related to rental properties, and those rules are enforced by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and Code Enforcement. Officials noted those tools remain available to address neighborhood concerns without creating a new regulatory framework. For more information on Florida’s short-term rental regulations, visit the Florida DBPR website or read the full coverage from the Hernando Sun.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
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