Fort Myers Beach cracks down on unregistered short-term rentals

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is targeting approximately 500 short-term rentals that it claims are not registered.

A news release specified the town will begin to issue violation notices to the unregistered short-term rental properties within the upcoming weeks. 

Starting in January, the town will increase enforcement on properties that are not registered. They say that owners who do not register their properties or continue to ignore the violation notices they receive could face fines, compliance deadlines, and possible suspension of rental privileges.

The town requires short-term rental owners to register their properties, ensuring they comply with basic safety rules. Those rules include fire department inspections that confirm the property is safe for guests.

Operating an unregistered rental can also expose owners to legal and financial risk in the event of an emergency or injury.

The town states that registration protects everyone, which is why property owners are advised to register as soon as possible and avoid penalties for non-registration.