Article Courtesy of The Florida Times-Union

By Matt Dixon

Published November 30, 2013

TALLAHASSEE | Groups of vacationers that each year turn vacation rentals into “mini-hotels” might be out of luck if lawmakers pass legislation filed by a duo of St. Johns County lawmakers.

Spearheaded by a Hammock Beach Club Condominium Association in Flagler County, the idea is to again allow local governments to regulate vacation rental laws. A 2011, state law gave that control to state government.

Senate sponsor John Thrasher, R- St. Augustine, said as many as 24 people can pack into houses that are often owned by people with no ties to the surrounding community.

“Many of the homeowners actually live out of state, so they don’t even have that connection to the community,” Thrasher said.

The measure is opposed by the Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association, which made the 2011 legislation, HB 883, its top priority. Lori Killinger, a lobbyist representing the association, says it’s about a “balancing act.”

“We believe those who own vacation rentals have the right to rent it,” she said. “But people who live and own in the area also should be able to enjoy their home.”

She said some of the problem stems from zoning decisions made by local governments.

“We are not sure why they think when they permit seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom homes on the beach that they won’t be rented,” she said.

Thrasher said he supports property owner’s rights, but “there is a limit.”

“I’m a property rights guy … but we should leave these decisions with the local governments,” he said.

Last year he worked with officials from the Hammock Beach Club Condominium Association and local elected leaders to try and hammer out a solution, but none was reached.

“I wanted to avoid doing a piece of legislation last year,” he said.

This year’s bill is filed in the House by state Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton. It has the support of groups like the Florida League of Cities, which confuses Killinger.

“I don’t know where these groups were when we passed the original bill,” she said.

Residents of the condo association, which gave $5,000 to a committee run by Thrasher in 2011, say the problem is not only a nuisance, but can be a safety hazard in the case of something like a house fire.

“We’ve got dozens of people crammed into these small buildings. The parking lots and garages are overloaded,” said Hammock Property Owners Association President Paul Pershes during a Flagler County Legislative Delegation meeting, according to the Palm Coast Observer.

“The inhabitants would be like marshmallows toasting around a campfire, because they couldn’t get out,” he said.