South Florida’s war with Airbnb

Tourists are flocking to Airbnb units, and the gleaming condos along the water are among the most desirable.

From the June issue: South Florida is a mecca for all kinds of tourists, but local governments extend little hospitality to Airbnb, HomeAway and other online home-sharing companies active in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area.

Consider, for example, the low tolerance for home-based competition with hotels in Miami Beach, where ordinances allow short-term rentals only in limited areas and residents who violate the rules face steep fines. Last year, from March to mid-August, the city collected nearly $1.6 million in fines. The fees start at $20,000, then double and triple for subsequent violations.

Across Biscayne Bay, a temporary restraining order suspended Miami’s enforcement of a municipal ban on short-term rentals in residential areas. A Miami-Dade judge issued the restraining order in April in an ongoing case Airbnb brought to overturn the city’s ban on residential rentals lasting less than a month. [more]

from The Real Deal Miami https://therealdeal.com/miami/issues_articles/south-floridas-war-with-airbnb/#new_tab
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