INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County Board of Commissioners has finally passed a tough short-term vacation rental ordinance, following months of heated discussion, including a grueling 4-plus hours of debate, during a seven-and-a-half hour County Commission meeting June 21.
Lending weight to the staff’s ordinance recommendation was a preliminary report from a California consulting firm, Host Compliance LLC, listing more than 600 short-term-rental operations in the county, including more than 200 in Vero beach, and others in Sebastian, Indian River Shores and Orchid, far more than the county had previously identified.
The new regulations, which go into effect “almost immediately” according to Community Development Director Stan Boling, include a local license requirement which will only be granted with proof of a state license and must be renewed annually; a cap of 10 visitors in any one rental property and a limit of two visitors per bedroom, plus an additional two per property; and a set of fees for non-compliance Commissioners hope are heavy enough to get the attention of property owners inclined to over-fill their rentals.
The most complicated issue was disruptive, outdoor noise, as Commissioners tried to figure out how much was too much, how best to gauge noise levels and how to enforce regulations. Agreeing it is “new ground,” the Commission decided to take the plunge and forbid any amplified sound equipment outside (which could even include a portable radio if someone complains), and consider ordinance adjustments as needed, based on individual complaints and circumstances.
Commissioner Wesley Davis, while acknowledging the Commission needed to move ahead with the long-awaited ordinance, stated, “I don’t like (the noise proposal.) We need something better. We need to work with law enforcement.” Code Enforcement will work with the Sheriff’s Office to determine how best to handle noise complaints.
Properties that are properly licensed as of June 21 but don’t meet the new number-of-visitors requirements can be grandfathered to some extent.
The number of visitors allowed for each property will also be based on the capacity of the property’s septic system, which could lower the 10-visitor cap.
Although agreeing more adjustments will be needed, the Commission voted 5-0 on each of the three main categories: noise, number of visitors, and license requirements, in order to prevent any further or future “exploitation” as has occurred in other areas of the state.
The County will likely retain the services of Host Compliance for $10,000 a year, reasoning it has the technology and web connections to far more accurately identify area short-term rental properties, and will save the county money and resources, while providing up-to-date data on an ongoing basis.
