Fort Myers Beach cracks down on illegal short-term rentals

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —

Hundreds of homeowners could soon receive warning letters and face a fine for failing to register their vacation rentals. Fort Myers Beach is cracking down on short-term rental properties that aren't playing by the rules.

The town recently launched new software to scan platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. The tool flagged more than 500 active rental listings that aren't registered or haven't passed a required fire safety inspection.

"We thought it was going to be 20, 30, maybe 40 rentals," said Abigail Eberhart, the town's public information officer. "It's a very big problem, bigger problem than we anticipated. More than anything, this is a safety concern."

Homeowners found to be out of compliance will soon receive formal warning letters. The notices will give property owners 15 days to register or face fines up to $500. The process also requires a $300 registration fee and a fire inspection.

According to Fire Chief Scott Wirth, the inspections check for basics like working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and visible house numbers.

"We're about three weeks out and have about sixty open inspections on the books for short-term rentals," said Wirth. "Our folks are working overtime and picking up the extra workload."

Town officials say property owners who are already in line for inspections won't be fined, as long as they aren't renting out their property in the meantime. Renting before passing inspection can trigger fines and possibly suspension.

The town says the goal is to ensure properties are safe for renters and owners. Property owners can check their status or begin the registration process on the town's website if you click here.

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