MONROE COUNTY AMENDED VACATION RENTAL PLAN ACCEPTED BY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County’s revised plan for vacation rentals during COVID-19 was accepted over the weekend by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) The plan was updated with new capacity limitations, local management contact, and management signage requirements. The plan will remain in effect until the Governor removes statewide restrictions on vacation rentals.

Governor Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-123 allows vacation rentals to operate only within a county with a safety plan for vacation rental operations approved by the DBPR. Monroe County sent a vacation rental reopening plan to the DBPR allowing vacation rentals to reopen on June 1 with sanitation requirements and other safety measures. New measures include:

Capacity Limitation:

Capacity for vacation rental property will be limited to two people per bedroom plus two, meaning a two-bedroom vacation rental can have a maximum occupancy of six people.

Local Manager:

Vacation rental units shall have a local vacation rental manager who resides within that section of the unincorporated area of the county (Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys) or within the municipality where the vacation rental unit is located. The manager shall be available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for the purpose of promptly responding to complaints regarding conduct or behavior of vacation rental occupants or alleged violations.

Signage Requirements:

The name and telephone number of the vacation rental manager must be posted on a sign that can be read from the street. The signage requirement will enable neighbors, law enforcement and code compliance to direct complaints about noise, excessive occupancy, and other violations to the manager. The signage is the responsibility of the vacation rental operator; signs will not be provided by the local municipality, or the county.

Reporting Non-compliance or Complaints:

To report non-compliance, problems or complaints, people should first call the vacation rental manager listed on the sign at the property. If unable to contact the manager, local code compliance numbers for reporting violations:

* Unincorporated Monroe County Dedicated Number: 305-289-2819

* Key West 24-hour Code Compliance Number: 305-809-1101

* Islamorada Code Compliance: 305-664-6435

* Marathon Code Compliance: 305-289-5024

* Key Colony Beach Code Compliance: 305-289-1212, ext. 3

* Layton Code Compliance: 305-664-4667

If unable to contact the vacation rental manager or code compliance, after hours or weekend issues needing immediate attention can be addressed to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 305-296-2424 for unincorporated Monroe County, Marathon, Layton, and the Village of Islamorada. For the City of Key West, contact Key West Police Department at 305-809-1000.

Unrevised Protective Measures Include:

Reservations from COVID-19 hot spots identified by the Governor are to be avoided. COVID-19 identified hotspots according to the governor are New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Reservations from international guests will not be allowed until further notice.

House cleaning procedures should conform to the new enhanced standards issued by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, CDC, and DBPR. In addition to the enhanced standards, remote check-in and check-outs will be made available, along with printed copies of CDC regulations and guidelines and printed copies of local COVID-19 regulations and restrictions and signage highlighting the new cleaning protocols will be placed on the property. Cleaning and property staff will wear facial coverings and gloves and practice social distancing from each other while on property and maintain a schedule that does not coincide with the guest’s arrival or stay.

To read the plan in its entirety, visit www.monroecountyem.com/covid19 under “Lodging.”

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