Real Estate Blog

The Florida Realtors association released a very helpful summary and explanation of the Task Force recommendations for Phase II regarding vacation rentals. At this point, we do not know when Phase II will begin. It is important to note that Governor DeSantis did not follow all of the Task Force's recommendations for Phase I.

Gov. Ron DeSantis created a task force of business leaders and politicians and directed them to create a guide on how to safely reopen Florida to business and tourism. The task force submitted their report last week, and DeSantis used it, in part, when he announced Phase 1 of three phases to reopen the state.

DeSantis does not have to follow the guidelines created by the task force and, for Phase 1, scaled back some of the recommendations. The task force, for example, suggested that Phase 1 allow restaurants and retail stores to begin operating at 50% capacity. However, DeSantis backed that recommendation down to 25%.

If the governor agrees with the task force recommendations for Phase 2, though, vacation rentals will be allowed to begin limited operations. According to the task force report, that would include:

• Open but operating for in-state reservations only (i.e. only Florida residents)
• Rentals to visitors traveling internationally – or from a state or locality with a substantial community spread of COVID-19 – are specifically banned
• A mandatory 72-hour hiatus between guest check-ins during which time the rental will be effectively cleaned and disinfected.
• Short-term rental units would be required to have signage in all units detailing the cleaning and sanitation procedures

The task force’s recommendations are posted online. DeSantis calls the plan phased plan a “small, deliberate, methodical” approach to reopening the state, and he’s hoping that it will take weeks rather than months to move on to Phase 2.

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