In a time when the balance between state and local governance is frequently tested, residents across Florida can be grateful for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent decision to allow local communities to address concerns created by vacation rentals. The governor continues to act with a keen understanding of which issues are best decided statewide and which should be decided by cities and towns — leading to Florida’s continued economic success. As a mayor who has long advocated for the principle that purely local decisions should be decided locally, I greatly appreciate DeSantis’ leadership and approach to governance.
The proposed law in question, Senate Bill 280, would have made it far more difficult for cities and towns to deal with short-term vacation rentals that fail to respect the peace and quiet of their neighbors and negatively impact Florida’s families. The proposed bill hamstrung the ability of local communities to address market and public safety issues that may arise from vacation rentals. Cities have worked over the last decade to put in place sensible limitations on the frequency of rentals, regulations to limit noise and negative impacts, and other safety concerns. The bill imperiled many of these good-governance measures. DeSantis wisely safeguarded them, noting in his veto message that the “effect of this provision will prevent virtually all local regulation of vacation rentals even though the vacation rental markets are far from uniform across the various regions of the state.”
One of the biggest drawbacks of the bill is that it would have made it a heavy lift for governments to crack down on bad actors. While many vacation rental operators work alongside their neighbors, others do not. The bill would have significantly reduced the ability for local governments to respond to concerns of their constituents. Few things can be more in the local purview than efforts by one city to prevent a specific street or neighborhood from turning into a strip of vacation rentals with high turnover and noise.
DeSantis has consistently understood when statewide interests require uniformity and when local needs are best left to municipalities. He has ensured Florida’s economic engine has continued to thrive by stopping efforts by a single locality that would have had an undue or unworkable burden for the businesses that serve Florida statewide. While there is certainly a need for some statewide standards to ensure consistency and fairness, this bill overstepped by imposing regulations that could potentially harm property rights and undermine local governance — principles we as Americans hold so dear.
The governor’s veto is a clear message that localities should retain the right to tailor regulations that best suit their specific needs and circumstances. To his credit, the governor has recognized this principle in other actions over the years, vetoing legislation that would have prevented cities from encouraging new development and supporting a delegation of power that allowed cities to decide the issue of smoking in local parks.
While the federal government continues to impose more and more national regulations that take away state and local input, often with unintended negative consequences, DeSantis has led our state to record growth and prosperity with a nuanced approach that career politicians and bureaucrats in Washington would wisely mirror. DeSantis’ action reflects his understanding that local communities need a mechanism to address their own specific needs if problems arise in their neighborhoods with vacation rentals. It demonstrates a significant victory for both local governance and property rights in the Sunshine State.
If this legislation comes back next session, I hope that industry and government can work together to provide a more thoughtful framework. As vice chair of the of the Florida Republican Mayors Association, I know our members are eager to collaborate with legislators in crafting solutions that balance statewide interests with local autonomy. I remain grateful for DeSantis’ wise decision on this issue and his strong leadership for Florida.
Scott Singer is the mayor of Boca Raton and the vice chair of the Florida Republican Mayors Association.
