Fort Myers Beach going after unregistered short-term rentals

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is going after about 500 short-term rentals that they say are not registered. That’s why the town is issuing violation notices to those properties in the next few 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 says short-term rental owners are required to register their properties so the town can ensure they follow basic safety rules. Those rules include fire department inspections that confirm the property is safe for guests.

Operating an unregistered rental could also expose owners to legal and financial risk if an emergency or injury happens.

The town says registration protects everyone, which they say is why property owners should register as soon as possible and avoid penalties for not registering.