PALM COAST, Fla. — From limiting the number of guests to a new city-wide registration requirement, changes could be coming for people who rent out their homes on sites like Airbnb and VRBO in Palm Coast.
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Kathy and Joel Davisson call the regulations unnecessary, saying they’ve been running a successful business for nearly a decade.
“To tell a 4,000 square-foot house that they can’t host a 15-person sporting team or a family reunion or wedding event, is just not right,” said Joel.
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Their 6-bedroom home can accommodate large groups and they have driveway space for up to 10 cars. But if the ordinance passes, they would have to lower the number of people they can allow.
“So when we get that 10-person limit, does that mean we can’t rent the rest of our rooms when we have that available?” said Kathy.
The city said the new rules are the result of noise complaints. To help better control rental properties, city leaders want to require an annual licensing fee for the home. Each rental could also be required to post notices about parking, noise, and trash and make it clear the home is in a residential zone.
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Joel said all of that adds up.
“The reality is this shouldn’t even be being done. We are going to pay an extra $200 for the license and then have to pay an annual fee and that comes out of our pocket and we are doing this to make extra income,” said Joel.
The new set of rules will have a first reading on December 17 and will be voted on in early January. The city is also considering hiring an outside company to enforce the new rules.
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