PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A short-term rental bill that would give the state more power of regulating the industry instead of local governments has been in the works in Tallahassee. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Short-term rental bill narrowly passed at the end of 2024 legislative session 

  •  It would give the state more power of regulating the industry instead of local governments 

  •  Some mayors continue to fight against it

The bill would cap the number of occupants allowed and would require owners to pay a registration fee.

It also calls for someone to be available to address complaints and lets local governments suspend a rental's registration if rules are continuously broken.

However, the bill is still getting push back from some local governments across the state.

Republican State Sen. Nick DiCeglie is the sponsor of the bill.

“This bill is about balance. This bill is about identifying what is currently going on locally, not so much with violations but what local governments are currently doing,” DiCeglie said while defending the bill during the 2024 session.

Redington Beach Mayor David Will says the bill isn’t needed.

“The short-term rental bill removes the current legislation — the 2014 legislation — which actually struck the balance which allows short-term rentals in residential communities but also allows those communities to regulate the short-term rentals, and to be able to distinguish between a single family home and a vacation rental,” Mayor Will said.

While Gov. DeSantis has not voiced his opinion on the bill yet, Mayor Will plans to continue to advocate against it.