Manatee County will decide on new regulation of short-term vacation rentals in unincorporated Manatee County next month, but the vote could be split.
The county commissioners started the process on Jan. 28, when they asked staff to work toward plans to regulate short-term vacation rentals. The staff presented an update on those efforts during this week’s meeting shortly before commissioners voted to direct that a proposed ordinance be presented for approval in June.
Some municipalities, including Bradenton and those on Anna Maria Island already regulate vacation rentals, but the unincorporated county does not. The staff estimates that about 5,833 properties are currently offered as vacation rentals in Manatee County could not calculate exact figures nor conduct safety inspections without approval of a formal county policy…