Florida will once again try to limit cities from regulating short term rental properties

The bill (SB 522), filed by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, would largely give the state control of regulation of vacation rentals, preventing local restrictions.

Florida will once again try to limit cities from regulating short term rental properties
PHOTO VIA AIRBNB/FACEBOOK

A Senate Republican on Monday filed a proposal that could refuel a debate about regulation of vacation rental properties.

The bill (SB 522), filed by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, would largely give the state control of regulation of vacation rentals, preventing local restrictions. Local governments could only regulate the rentals in the same way as other properties in neighborhoods, a restriction that cities and counties have strenuously opposed in the past.

Diaz’s bill is filed for the legislative session that will start March 2. He sponsored a similar measure during the 2020 session, but it did not pass.

The regulatory issue has sparked a long-running battle pitting local government officials against advertising platforms, such as Airbnb.

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