COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Cocoa Beach city commissioners signaled they are amenable to adjusting recent changes to regulations on short-term vacation rentals.
During a three-hour commission meeting Thursday night, commissioners voted unanimously to enact a 30-day “grace period” for the payment of vacation registration fees and late fees.
As News 6 reported last month, the commission took a controversial vote to raise registration fees from $525 - $2,500, making them the most expensive in the state.
The yearly renewal fee is now $1,500 — up from $325.
During the grace period, which starts Friday, owners who are registering their rentals can pay a fee of $500. Owners who are renewing their rentals are not eligible for a reduced rate.
“We’re trying to get people in compliance so we don’t need to use more staff,” Mayor Keith Capizzi said.
Capizzi was the sole member of the Cocoa Beach commission to vote against the initial hike last month.
Thursday night, he voted in favor of the grace period, as well as another item to apply vacation regulations city-wide, as opposed to just in the residential district.
“I’m trying to make it fair for everybody,” Capizzi said.
The commissioners also hinted at a future vote to stiffen penalties against “bad actor” vacation rental owners, as well as a possible measure to lower the recently enacted high rates.
