Six months and one day has always been the legal defining line between short abd long term rentals so I imagine that's not changing. Other vacation destinations are facing the same issues and there have been all sorts of legislative deterrents tried so I'm not sure there is a suitable more/affordable alternative. We have always been among the cheapest of Florida coastal destinations. Our visitors have not pushed back on the doubling of most rental rates since Covid so more small increases will likely not have much effect. Landlords have enjoyed the rent inflation of the last five years and most could easily absorb the higher fees if necessary although I don't expect many to take that route.
"Easily absorb the higher fees" for any rentals less than six months?...my arse! Watch what you wish for Cocoa Beach, you just may get it. Was never interested in the Airbnb crowd, but at those punitive rates my vacation home will now be off the market for snowbirds, its no longer worth the pain and additional risks to offset even less of the ownership costs. It will now sit vacant 9+ months of the year and local businesses will lose tourist revenue. I predict property value decreases from those who can't afford it and property tax revenue hits. It's not like insurance costs aren't skyrocketing too. Maybe studying what has and hasn't worked elsewhere first might be smarter? If the concern is parties there are other ways to deal with that, including a more realistic definition of short term rental length. Treating small property owners like piggy banks (or the root problem) hasn't worked for blue states, so good luck with that!
Are they changing the rules for all rentals less than 6 months plus 1 day or just the "vacation" lengths? It seems the snowbirds are valuable to the economy but raising the fees for them will likely push them to other towns.
Wow. Those are hefty increases!!!! IF approved, when would they go into effect? Wondering what the motivation is, to use the fees to improve the city and its services, or maybe too much non-residential presence that is different than how the city defines itself?
It's not about the money. The high fees are meant to be a deterrent. Since the State does not allow municipalities to ban short-term rentals, cities have come up with various creative ways to limit and discourage them. Many of our neighborhoods in Cocoa Beach have been transformed from quiet, family neighborhoods into vacation destinations with partying guests who clog the streets with parked vehicles and make noise late into the night. They are on vacation after all and paid good money to rent a house not knowing that it is surrounded by people with jobs and school to get up for. Just one AirBnB on a quiet street can transform the neighborhood.
Off the main drag of A1A and the tourist areas Cocoa Beach is a unique little family-oriented, beach town and it's doing what it can to maintain its character within the law.
Thank you for your reply. I am glad the City of Cocoa Beach is acting. I hope the neighborhoods see the short-term rentals go away and the beach guests find good rentals in the right areas.
Six months and one day has always been the legal defining line between short abd long term rentals so I imagine that's not changing. Other vacation destinations are facing the same issues and there have been all sorts of legislative deterrents tried so I'm not sure there is a suitable more/affordable alternative. We have always been among the cheapest of Florida coastal destinations. Our visitors have not pushed back on the doubling of most rental rates since Covid so more small increases will likely not have much effect. Landlords have enjoyed the rent inflation of the last five years and most could easily absorb the higher fees if necessary although I don't expect many to take that route.
"Easily absorb the higher fees" for any rentals less than six months?...my arse! Watch what you wish for Cocoa Beach, you just may get it. Was never interested in the Airbnb crowd, but at those punitive rates my vacation home will now be off the market for snowbirds, its no longer worth the pain and additional risks to offset even less of the ownership costs. It will now sit vacant 9+ months of the year and local businesses will lose tourist revenue. I predict property value decreases from those who can't afford it and property tax revenue hits. It's not like insurance costs aren't skyrocketing too. Maybe studying what has and hasn't worked elsewhere first might be smarter? If the concern is parties there are other ways to deal with that, including a more realistic definition of short term rental length. Treating small property owners like piggy banks (or the root problem) hasn't worked for blue states, so good luck with that!
Are they changing the rules for all rentals less than 6 months plus 1 day or just the "vacation" lengths? It seems the snowbirds are valuable to the economy but raising the fees for them will likely push them to other towns.
Wow. Those are hefty increases!!!! IF approved, when would they go into effect? Wondering what the motivation is, to use the fees to improve the city and its services, or maybe too much non-residential presence that is different than how the city defines itself?
It's not about the money. The high fees are meant to be a deterrent. Since the State does not allow municipalities to ban short-term rentals, cities have come up with various creative ways to limit and discourage them. Many of our neighborhoods in Cocoa Beach have been transformed from quiet, family neighborhoods into vacation destinations with partying guests who clog the streets with parked vehicles and make noise late into the night. They are on vacation after all and paid good money to rent a house not knowing that it is surrounded by people with jobs and school to get up for. Just one AirBnB on a quiet street can transform the neighborhood.
Off the main drag of A1A and the tourist areas Cocoa Beach is a unique little family-oriented, beach town and it's doing what it can to maintain its character within the law.
Thank you for your reply. I am glad the City of Cocoa Beach is acting. I hope the neighborhoods see the short-term rentals go away and the beach guests find good rentals in the right areas.