Fort Pierce eyes new law to regulate short-term rentals
Property owners looking to post their homes on popular websites such as Airbnb may face new costs as the city tries to enforce its short-term and vacation-rental regulations.
The City Commission Tuesday unanimously gave first approval to eliminating the requirement for rentals to have a conditional-use permit requirement and replacing replacing it with a streamlined application process.
That change was recommended by the city’s short-term rental task force, which last month presented the commission with possible solutions towards a compromise between permit applicants and those who don’t want them here, citing concerns over safety, noise and commercial activity.
The city’s policy has sparked debate for years because of the lengthy permitting process, leaving the fate of every Airbnb in the City Commission’s hands. By comparison, owners in Port St. Lucie and unincorporated St. Lucie County only need a state license and to pay certain fees.
The permitting process was most recently scrutinized in April after two Black homeowners said they were being discriminated against by their neighbors and the city as they sought permits.
While a proposed law could alleviate pressure on the commission, it comes with an annual $250 registration fee for property owners..
The short-term rental task force had recommended a $1,200 fee, but it was reduced once city officials did not recommend initial and biannual code inspections.
There currently is no city registration fee for short-term or vacation rentals, but the conditional-use permit process costs $700 and takes at least 90 days, according to the City Clerk, Linda Cox.
While some people said the $250 annual fee was a reasonable cost of doing business here, others argued it still was too high and would deter people from legally registering rentals.
The city hopes registration fees would help pay for one code-enforcement officer to regulate rentals and identify unregistered ones.
The fee could generate at least $49,000 annually since there are currently 196 permitted rentals, but that still wouldn’t be enough to cover the salary and benefits of a code-enforcement officer, officials said.
