While vacations home rentals have long been available in Florida, the option to list available units online through advertising platforms has caused this lodging sector to explode by more than 50,000 units in Central Florida. Florida’s statutes need to be updated to accommodate the changing lodging industry, creating balanced and rational regulations that protect our visitors, residents, and communities.
CFHLA strongly supports the following:
- Requiring advertising platforms to confirm the licensing/registration of vacation home rentals with the State Department of Revenue and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation prior to listing;
- Requiring advertising platforms to collect and remit all taxes due to their county Tax Collector and submit reports to the State for confirmation;
- Requiring initiatives that ensure vacation home rentals on advertising platforms also practice the same safety standards as traditional lodging to protect visitors and their experience. These standards include, but are not limited to; human trafficking awareness and prevention, fire and life safety inspections, regular health inspections, and COVID-19 hygiene and cleaning procedures.
- An option for local registration so that our local governments can better understand and respond to what is happening in our community;
- Reasonable and effective penalty provisions for noncompliance, such as higher monetary penalties and vacation rental license revocation provisions; and
Clear and consistent audit provisions to allow for accurate assessment of compliance.