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Orange Park Town Council approves guidelines for AirBnBs

Stricter codes designed to protect city, residents, visitors

By Wesley LeBlanc, Staff Writer
Posted 6/28/19

ORANGE PARK – The town council recently approved the second reading of an ordinance to create stricter town codes for short-term vacation rentals, generally known as AirBnBs.

The town approved …

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Orange Park Town Council approves guidelines for AirBnBs

Stricter codes designed to protect city, residents, visitors


Posted

ORANGE PARK – The town council recently approved the second reading of an ordinance to create stricter town codes for short-term vacation rentals, generally known as AirBnBs.

The town approved the first reading of an ordinance last May to tighten its grasp on short-term rentals to protecting the town, residents and visitors.

Last week, the council voted to ask business owners to acquire a short-term vacation rental certificate, a business tax receipt and a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation license. It also included regulations for swimming pools, garbage and capacity.

“If we don’t have something in place before the state changes the rules, then we’re in big trouble and the real issue tonight is our job and our job is to protect the sanctity of our residential neighborhoods and protect the safety of the people that come to town and in my viewpoint, that’s what this is all about,” Council member Alan Watt said.

Town Attorney Sam Garrison said the original reading was an aggressive ordinance.

“If this ordinance were to pass, you’d have the most stringent regulation on short-term rentals maybe on the entire first coast,” Garrison said. “It’s an aggressive ordinance.”

Although the first reading passed 4-1, Mayor Connie Thomas dissented.

“We have an ordinance as strict as St. Augustine’s, but we only have five AirBnBs, so I just felt like it should have been workshopped and then we move onto an appropriate ordinance for our town,” Thomas said. “I’m very much for the protection of our citizens but I feel like this one is a heavy lift for our code enforcement and everyone else.”

Council member Ron Raymond said despite the recent approval, there’s still work to be completed.

“This doesn’t mean it’s over,” Raymond said. “It just means that this is where we start.”

While the council lacks the authority to ban short-term rentals, the ordinance emphasizes the new rules and regulations AirBnBs must follow.