ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – Neighbors in Atlantic Beach say short-term rentals are slipping through the cracks despite a city ordinance banning rentals under 90 days in residential areas.
Several online listings in the area are raising new questions about enforcement and what’s being done to protect the community’s quiet character.
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A quick search on Airbnb reveals multiple listings in Atlantic Beach offering stays for just a few nights. But according to city code, that’s not allowed.
The city ordinance states: “No person(s) shall offer or advertise a private home for rent or lease for a term or period of less than ninety (90) days.”
Recently, Atlantic Beach residents voiced their concerns online after someone flagged a possible active short-term rental listing.
News4JAX visited Atlantic Beach City Hall to speak with Deputy City Manager Kevin Hogencamp about the issue. Hogencamp was unavailable for an on-camera interview but provided a detailed statement explaining the city’s stance.
He said Florida law now prohibits local governments from investigating anonymous complaints about short-term rentals, but the city currently has one active complaint.
Hogencamp added that sometimes listings appear active but aren’t actually taking bookings, or hosts claim they’re lending their homes to friends or family.
One exception is the Coquina House near Beaches Town Center, which is a legal short-term rental because it is located in a non-residential zoning district.
Records show Atlantic Beach has received a small but steady number of complaints, from just three in 2013 to as many as 15 in 2017, and five so far this year.
None of these cases has gone before the city’s Code Enforcement Board. Officials say violation notices alone have been enough for owners to comply.
Hogencamp also said one of the advertised rentals was taken off the market after he complained directly to Airbnb.
The city warns homeowners can face fines of up to $250 per day, per violation.