Florida House Bill 1537, addressing the regulation of vacation rentals, is a horrible bill that will have a negative impact on Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods. Nearly all of the provisions of the bill are less restrictive than the provisions of Fort Lauderdale’s existing ordinance governing the operation of vacation rentals.
Recognizing the impact on neighbors of vacation rentals in our neighborhoods, the existing Fort Lauderdale ordinance requires that a responsible party report to the property within one hour of notice of violations and rectify the problem. The language in HB 1537 is more lax than the city’s as it deems a mere phone call to a responsible party as an appropriate response. Additionally, rather than resolving the complaint in an hour, under HB 1537 the responsible party doesn’t need to respond until 9 a.m. the following day. Anyone who resides next to a vacation rental can tell you the response needs to be immediate and in-person to ensure an effective resolution as soon as possible.
Repeated violations at vacation rentals have detrimental effects on the quality of life of neighbors, and Fort Lauderdale’s ordinance contemplates this. Under the city’s existing ordinance, three violations at a property will result in a 180-day suspension, and four violations increases the suspension to 365 days. These violations can all happen in one day, as is often the case, and do not need to occur over a span of days. If HB 1537 passes, the violations must each occur on separate days, with term of suspension being calculated via a complex, tiered schedule in which the overall maximum allowable suspension is a mere 60 days. If HB 1537 passes, vacation rental neighbors will suffer more disruptions, a deterioration of the piece and quiet of their neighborhoods, and potentially a negative impact on their property values.
The city’s Vacation Rental Registration Program specifies the applicable fee to register a vacation rental as well as the fee to renew a registration of a vacation rental property. Appallingly, HB 1537 sets a maximum for both of these fees, and the rate proposed is less than half of what the city of Fort Lauderdale is currently charging for the registration and the renewal.
Since 2016, Fort Lauderdale has had ordinances is place to allow for the operation of a Vacation Rental Registration Program in order to preserve and protect our neighborhoods. The program has been efficient and supportive of the vacation rental and tourism economy, which is vital to our city. If this bill passes, the city will end up with virtually no control over vacation rentals in Fort Lauderdale, and residents will suffer significantly.
Unfortunately, the Florida Senate has already passed a version of this bill. In the House, it has passed one of two committee hearings. It could well be on its way to final passage and the governor’s signature. Please email your state representative and ask them to protect our neighborhoods and vote against HB 1537.
Ben Sorensen served on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, 2018-2022, and is currently running to be elected to the commission again. He can be reached at or bensorensen.com.
