Since March 2016, Miami Beach has issued $12.1 million in fines. Each subsequent fine increases by another $20,000 and can go as high as $100,000. In Miami Beach, operators are charged a fine of $20,000 on the first violation of the short-term rental code. The suit seeks a permanent injunction that would prevent the city from fining short-term rental operators. The suit also claims the rules violate the state constitution’s equal protection provision because they don’t apply to residents in an area of the North Beach neighborhood. In Miami Beach, a short-term rental host recently sued the city, stating that the city’s steep fines fines are “excessive punishments” that violate the Florida Constitution. Increased regulation is also bringing a backlash in the form of lawsuits against city rules. Airbnb has been proactive in negotiating tax-collection agreements with many governments and is an active participant in any discussion about regulating short-term rentals.įor short-term rental hosts, many of whom started offering short-term rentals under much less regulated conditions, these changes bring more paperwork, more expense - and uncertainty about the future of their business. In many places, these issues pit the hotel industry, affordable-housing advocates, and neighborhood activists against short-term rental hosts, represented by powerful short-term rental platform companies, especially Airbnb. These include long-term housing being converted into short-term rentals while affordable housing becomes more scarce neighborhood disruptions due to an influx of short-term renters and the fact that hotels and Airbnbs often operate under different standards and taxation. While few cities are banning short-term rentals altogether, they’re aiming to address issues associated with a critical mass of short-term rentals. Within just the past few months, San Diego, New Orleans, Boston, and New York City have all tightened up their rules regarding short-term rentals.

As short-term vacation rentals grow in popularity - facilitated by online platforms including Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway - communities are increasingly looking to regulate them.

Florida hoa covenants and airbnb