The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners has unanimously approved a new ordinance regulating short-term vacation rentals advertised through platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
The ordinance is expected to affect approximately 3,000 properties in unincorporated Hillsborough County. County officials say it is intended to address complaints involving excessive noise, trash, large gatherings and other neighborhood disturbances while allowing responsible vacation rentals to continue operating.
Requirements for Property Owners
Beginning January 1, affected owners must:
- Register each short-term vacation rental annually.
- Pay a $200 annual registration fee for each property.
- Designate a responsible contact person who can address problems involving the rental.
- Permit an inspection when Hillsborough County Code Enforcement determines one is warranted.
- Renew the property's registration each year.
The county may also charge a no-show fee when an owner or designated representative fails to provide access for a scheduled inspection. Properties with unresolved code violations could face additional enforcement action.
The registration fees will help pay the county's administrative and code-enforcement expenses.
The ordinance currently applies only to properties in unincorporated Hillsborough County. Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City may choose to adopt the county's regulations within their respective municipal boundaries, but properties in those cities are not automatically covered.
The Commission plans to review the program after it has operated for 90 days and may make adjustments based on its effectiveness and administrative costs. Hillsborough County's official meeting recap confirms the annual registration, fee, inspections and effective date.
Supporters Point to Neighborhood Complaints
Commissioner Harry Cohen advanced the proposal after residents complained about disruptive vacation rentals operating in residential neighborhoods.
Supporters argue that registration will give Code Enforcement a reliable record of each property's owner and responsible representative. Instead of attempting to locate an out-of-state owner during a late-night disturbance, the county will have a designated person responsible for responding.
The ordinance is not intended to prohibit short-term rentals or impose a numerical cap. Its emphasis is registration, accountability and enforcement of existing health, safety and neighborhood standards.
Owners Warn Against Burdening Responsible Operators
Vacation-rental owners and property managers have cautioned commissioners against treating every operator as a problem because of complaints involving a smaller number of properties.
The $200 fee applies to each rental every year, regardless of whether the property has generated complaints. For owners managing several units, registration costs and administrative requirements could become significant.
Commissioners discussed possibly reducing the recurring renewal fee after the first year, although no lower fee has been formally adopted.
What Owners Should Do Now
Owners and managers should begin identifying which properties fall within unincorporated Hillsborough County rather than within Tampa, Temple Terrace or Plant City.
They should also:
- Confirm that ownership and contact records are current.
- Select a dependable person to respond to property complaints.
- Review noise, parking, trash and occupancy procedures.
- Verify that local and state licensing and tax obligations are satisfied.
- Create a calendar for registration and annual renewal deadlines.
- Prepare properties for possible complaint-based inspections.
Paul's Take
Most responsible owners already provide guests with occupancy limits, noise rules and emergency contact information. The concern is whether Hillsborough County will focus enforcement on documented problem properties or allow registration to grow into a broader inspection and regulatory program.
A $200 annual fee is difficult to justify for a well-managed property that has never generated a complaint. The Commission's promised 90-day review will therefore be important.
Owners should comply, document their operating procedures and pay close attention to any effort to expand the ordinance after implementation. WUSF's report provides additional coverage of the vote and competing viewpoints.
