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local government from enforcing existing ordinances or 24/7 Vacation Rental Hotline at 1-800-685-7453. (This line is
passing any new local measure which would exclusively apply only for complaints relating to a vacation rental property.)
to vacation rentals. Under the bill, any such measure must A map of registered CRCCE Vacation Rentals current as of
apply to all residential properties. The effect of this provision March is provided on page10.
will prevent virtually all local regulation of vacation rentals And we will call out one property, located at 3624 NE 25
even though the vacation rental markets are far from uniform Terrace. This property originally approached the Board
across the various regions of the state. “Going forward, I requesting a variance for a carport that was turned into a
encourage the Florida Legislature and all key stakeholders to garage, apparently without a permit. The garage encroached
work together, with the understanding that vacation rentals 2’ into the front setback. The Board wanted to know if the
should not be approached as a one-size-fits-all issue.”
immediate neighbors objected to the variance, so Karen and
Our State Representative Chip LaMarca had this to say at Vicki asked them what they thought and got an earful. They
the time: “I don’t always agree with the Sun Sentinel editorial heard many complaints that the property was being operated
board (NOTE: Sun-Sentinel wrote an editorial urging a veto as a Vacation Rental, despite representations from the owners
of the bill), but they got this one right. I have been asking that they lived there more than half the year. More research
community and business leaders to call the Governor’s yielded additional information about the property, summarized
office and ask them to veto this bill. Earlier this week I was in an email we sent to their attorney:
speaking on a panel at the Broward Workshop and I asked Over the past week or so members of the CRCCE Board have
the more than 100 Broward CEOs that were present to call been looking into various issues regarding the property at
the Governor’s office and do the same. Hopefully we can get 3624 NE 25 Terrace and the pending variance request at the
a groundswell of opposition and join the realtors and many above referenced property. As promised in our call last week,
other community organizations in opposing this bad bill.”
following is a list questions and concerns expressed by board
Here are some of the complaints we have received (names members and neighbors:
and addresses omitted to preserve anonymity:
1. The property is registered with the City as a vacation rental
NE 25th Avenue: “The property was sold in 2018 and has been (certificate VR-24020017) and it appears the home is being
operating as a rental and a nightmare ever since. The neighbor used as a short-term vacation rental. The home is currently listed
on the other side moved her bedroom to the other side of the as having 6 bedrooms with sleeping accommodations for 12
house. We all complained and called to no avail. I personally adults + children. Neighbors often experience the noise and
left many messages. No one ever came out in the past 7 years to disruption that occurs when large groups of vacationers gather
remedy the situation. It has become worse over the years. at the home. We are concerned the enclosed garage will be
used to accommodate even more renters and result in larger
The stuff we have seen and experienced no one would believe.
And I am one of many who live next to these rentals. I feel it’s sad groups gathering at the home creating more noise and disruption.
that the city does not protect its own people who pay taxes and 15-278 of the Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rental Code sets forth
live here. the maximum occupancy of a vacation rental home: 15-278.
(2) Maximum occupancy. a. The maximum number of transient
It allows party animals to disrupt the peace of people and families occupants authorized to stay overnight at any vacation rental
who actually live here. It is so uncomfortable to have strangers in shall be limited to two (2) persons per sleeping room. The number
large groups constantly coming and going. This makes up 96% of of sleeping rooms shall be confirmed by on-site inspection by a
the renters we have experienced here. The other 4% are decent representative of the city, and b. The maximum number of persons
people who conduct themselves appropriately.” allowed to gather at or occupy a vacation rental shall not exceed
NE 43rd Street: “My wife and I were out to dinner and one one and one-half (1 ½) times the maximum occupants authorized
of our kids called us. The Vacation Rental across the street was to stay overnight at that site, as shown on the certificate of
having a party. A woman knocked on our front door and asked compliance, and in no event shall a gathering exceed twenty (20)
our kids if she could come in because ‘they were coming after persons. This subsection b. shall not apply to owner¬occupied
me!’ We told them ‘NO, DO NOT LET HER IN!’.” vacation rentals when the property owner is physically present on
the site during the gathering, and c. Up to four (4) persons under
The bottom line on all this is we all have to be vigilant, make thirteen (13) years of age are exempt from and shall not count
sure all vacation rental properties are registered and call in towards the occupancy limits set in subsections a. and b. above.
complaints when warranted. Vacation rental concerns may be
reported via email at VRInfo@fortlauderdale.gov. You can also 2. See attached police records. The police have been called
call in a VACATION RENTAL complaint by contacting the to this residence six (6) times in the past 13 months.

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