Sarasota vacation rental registration period opens

The time has come for owners of vacation rental properties across Sarasota to begin registering their vacation rental properties with the city.

On Feb. 5, the Sarasota City Commission approved on second reading expanding the ordinance from the barrier islands to citywide. The ordinance goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, but owners have between now and Oct. 31 to file their paperwork with the city.

The cost to register is $500, which includes an initial safety inspection by the city, with an annual renewal fee of $350 and a re-inspection fee, should one be necessary, of $100. 

Until now, the city’s prior ordinance applied to the barrier islands only, about 135 properties. The web-crawling Granicus software used by the city indicates more than 700 homes operated as vacation rentals on the city’s mainland, in response to which residents have complained about disruptions to the ease of enjoyment of their properties.

Requirements of legally operating vacation rentals within the city limits include:

• Minimum stay of seven full days and nights.
• All vacation rentals meeting the state’s definition are required to obtain a vacation rental dwelling license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. 
• Obtain a local business tax receipt certificate to operate as a vacation rental business. 
• Obtain a certificate of registration with the city to advertise or operate as a vacation rental. 
• Owners submit proof of active local and state licensure and tax requirements and inspection for minimum safety and informational standards. 
• Pass city inspection.

Homes zoned single family are limited to 10 guests, or two people per bedroom, plus two additional persons. Additionally, only guests registered to sleep in the vacation rental may be on the property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

The city is required to post on its website a summary of the obligations of the property owner related to registration and operation of the vacation rental and the property owner is required to provide to guests details about the city’s noise ordinance. Parking is limited to vehicles that can fit in the driveway.

In addition to safety monitoring, requiring vacation rental property owners to register with the city provides a point of contact with the city government for neighboring residents in the event of disturbances resulting from the short-term rental use of homes in residential neighborhoods.

More information and registration forms for vacation rentals is available on the city’s website at SarasotaFL.gov.