Editor’s note: The Vero Beach City Council and the Indian River County Commission have taken very different approaches on short term rentals. At Commissioner Bob Solari’s urging, the County Commission opened the door to these so-called vacation rentals. Solari and his fellow commissioners see transient rentals as a boost to the economy.

Sensitive to the concerns of those focused on preserving quality of life, the Vero Beach City Council, rather than relaxing regulations, has doubled down of fines for offenders, and has gone to court to protect the City’s right to enforce its long-standing ban on the operation of short term rentals in areas zoned residential. 

Like the Vero Beach City Council, Key West leaders are holding the line on investor property owners who want to operate transient rentals in residential neighborhoods.

MIAMI HERALD

The Key West luxury vacation rental won rave reviews on the travel website Airbnb, where tourists showered their host, Don Morris, with gratitude for his accommodations and charm.

“Don was a great host and the property is incredible,” gushed Airbnb user Richard this past January.

But the place with the balconies, pool and private garden was an illegal rental inside the four-bedroom home at 916 James St., for which Morris lacks the required transient rental license.

Morris, a repeat offender who in May 2015 signed an agreement with the Key West Code Compliance Department swearing not to rent the place again, now faces up to $8,000 in fines and fees.