$183K lost to unregistered rentals: Fort Myers Beach steps up enforcement

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — The Town of Fort Myers Beach will begin issuing violation notices in the coming weeks to short-term rental properties that are operating without the required town registration, after new software revealed widespread noncompliance across the island.

Town officials say the system identified at least 612 unregistered short-term rentals. According to the town, many of the properties are owned or managed by property management companies that failed to complete the town’s registration process.

“We thought maybe it would be 10, 20, 30 short-term rentals that weren’t registered,” said Abigail Eberhart, public information officer for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. “We’re now looking at likely upwards of around 650 rentals, and when we saw this, we thought, ‘We really have to get on top of it.’”

Beginning in January, the town will increase enforcement against unregistered properties. Violation notices will be issued first, followed by escalating penalties for those who ignore them.

“The first notice will just let people know, ‘Hey, you’re not registered. You’re not compliant. You haven’t had your fire safety inspection,’” Eberhart said. “The second notice will carry a fine and the third will carry an even bigger fine.”

Fines are expected to range between $200 and $500 and will be enforced through the town’s magistrate. Continued noncompliance could result in suspension of rental privileges and additional legal action.

Town leaders say the financial impact of unregistered rentals is significant. With a $300 annual registration fee per property, officials estimate $183,600 in registration fees have gone unpaid. That revenue that could have supported public services and community events.

Eberhart noted that money from not paid registration fees could've paid for the towns' New Years Eve fireworks display, following its cancellation amongst budget cuts. 

“We want Fort Myers Beach to be fun. We want to have New Year’s Eve fireworks,” Eberhardt said. “But we have to do the hard stuff first. And safety and compliance is really that first and hardest thing.”

Registration is required because it triggers a mandatory Fire Department inspection, designed to ensure short-term rental properties meet basic life-safety standards before guests occupy them. Town officials acknowledge the Fire Department has experienced inspection delays but stress that registering the property is the most important first step.

"If you've reached out to the fire department and you contact us and let us know that you're going to be coming into compliance and you have an inspection set up within the next month, you know, we are willing to work with you,” Eberhardt said.

Scott Wirth, fire chief of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District, says the town adopted a short-term rental fire ordinance in 2015 to address safety gaps that don’t typically apply to single-family homes.

“What our ordinance does is extend our ability to look at these houses that are being used for short-term rentals and make sure they have the things in place that a hotel or a new home would have,” Wirth said.

The ordinance followed a tragic fire in 2015 and requires a fire and life safety inspection on all short-term vacation rentals every 12 months. 

The department inspects short-term rentals year-round. Those inspections include checking for smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, visible addresses, railings on elevated homes, and clearly posted exit plans.

"We're looking for those safety issues. It's pretty basic stuff," Wirth said.

Town officials warn that operating an unregistered short-term rental carries legal and financial risks, including potential civil liability if a renter is injured or a fire occurs, enforcement through the town’s magistrate, and elevated legal consequences for repeat offenders. The town says enforcement applies equally to all owners, regardless of how many properties they own or whether a management company is involved.

Patrick Dorbad, who owns two short-term rental properties on Fort Myers Beach, says he has registered his rentals and complied with fire inspections for 12 years, even as costs increased.

“When I first went here years ago, it was like 100 bucks to be compliant with the town,” Dorbad said. “Now it’s about $300 once a year per unit. For me, it’s $600.”

Dorbad says inspections required safety upgrades, including new smoke detectors and flashing alarms, but believes the process is necessary.

Despite the cost, Dorbad says he supports the town’s enforcement efforts.

“I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “What’s good for one is good for all.”

Town officials say some rentals follow different registration processes, including grandfathered properties, condominiums registered through homeowners' associations, and properties affected by zoning distinctions. Owners are urged to check the town’s website to determine how their property is classified.

The town urges short-term rental owners to register now to avoid penalties.

Violation notices are expected to begin going out in January. 

For more information about short-term rental registration, property owners can visit the Town of Fort Myers Beach website or contact Code Enforcement at str@fmbgov.com.

To see Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District's page on short-term rental inspections, visit this link.