Florida Governor Suspends Rentals Of Vacation Properties

Executive Orders suspend operation of Florida vacation rental properties through April 30, 2020.

Executive Order 20-87

Per Executive Order 20-87, issued March 27, 2020 by Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, vacation rental properties in the state of Florida are to suspend operation. This executive order “shall expire in 14 days, unless extended by subsequent order.” * UPDATE * — On April 10, 2020, the Governor extended suspension through April 30, 2020 (Executive Order 20-103), unless extended (again) with a subsequent order. * UPDATE * — As of mid-May, vacation rentals remain suspended.

Executive Order 20-87

According to this new order, “vacation rentals are prohibited from making new reservations or bookings and shall not accept new guests for check-in for the duration of this order.”

Ocean Place villas at Summer Beach. Photo by Amelia Island Living eMagazine.
Ocean Place at Summer Beach, Amelia Island

Locally, the Fernandina Beach government is “notifying all permitted short time rental property owners of this order and to adhere,” according to Fernandina’s Mayor, Johnny Miller (posted on Facebook March 28, 2020). According to Mayor Miller, the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council has also sent the Governor’s Executive Order 20-87 “to all lodging contacts in the county.”

Amelia Island Vacation Rentals

Amelia Island’s privately-owned vacation rental inventory includes oceanfront or ocean “view” condos and villas, cozy beach cottages and other privately-owned homes zoned for short-term vacation rentals.

Exceptions To Directive

According to the Governor’s directive, excluded from having to stop taking reservations and guests are: “Hotels, motels, inns, resorts, non-transient public lodging establishments, or time share projects; and long-term rentals…”

Voluntary Lodging Closures

Prior to the latest Executive Order, some Amelia Island hotels and lodging establishments had made their own decision to close temporarily. Amelia Island’s largest resort, Omni Amelia Island Plantation, has closed temporarily, until May 15, 2020.

Related Content

Read full details of Executive Order 20-87 about vacation rentals at Florida government website.