Important Hernando County Update

Proposed Short-Term Rental Ordinance

The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners is considering regulations that could impact vacation rental owners throughout the county. Here is what owners need to know and how to make their voices heard.

View the Proposed Regulations Email the Commissioners

Your Voice Matters

The proposed ordinance has not yet been finalized. However, it includes new registration, inspection, occupancy, parking, safety and enforcement requirements that could affect every short-term rental in unincorporated Hernando County.

Experience Weeki supports responsible vacation rentals, safe homes, professional local response and meaningful enforcement against nuisance properties. We also believe regulation should be focused, reasonable and effective.

10 Significant Proposed Regulations

This summary highlights the portions of the proposed ordinance most likely to affect vacation rental owners and operators.

1

County Registration

Every short-term rental would be required to register separately with Hernando County. Existing rentals would have six months to comply.

2

Initial Government Inspections

Each home would need both a county fire inspection and a building code inspection before its registration could be accepted.

3

Annual Renewal and Fees

Registrations would need to be renewed by October 1 each year, together with a renewal fee established by the County Commission.

4

Maximum Occupancy

Occupancy would be limited to two people per bedroom, plus two in one common area, with a maximum of ten people per property.

5

Off-Street Parking

Homes would need one off-street parking space for every three permitted occupants. Front-lawn parking would not count.

6

24/7 Responsible Party

Every rental would need a designated responsible party available around the clock and able to arrive within two hours when required.

7

Specific Safety Equipment

Requirements would include smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers on each level, emergency lighting, handrails and safe exits.

8

Future County Inspections

The ordinance would allow additional inspections, reinspections, inspection fees, no-show fees and court-authorized inspection warrants.

9

Violations and Suspension

Repeated violations could result in daily fines and suspension of the property's authorization to provide short-term occupancy.

10

Property Appraiser Notification

Accepted registrations would be shared with the Hernando County Property Appraiser for property-tax exemption and valuation review.

Our Perspective

We support reasonable regulations that protect neighborhoods, promote safe accommodations and hold irresponsible operators accountable.

However, we have concerns about duplicative registration, government inspections inside private homes, ongoing inspection authority and additional annual fees imposed on owners who are already licensed, insured, paying taxes and operating responsibly.

We believe the County's strongest focus should be on the behaviors that create real neighborhood problems.

Share Your Thoughts with the Commissioners

Property owners who cannot attend the meeting may use the template below as a starting point. Personalizing the message with your own experience will make it more meaningful.

Suggested Email Template Copy, personalize and send to the County Commissioners.
Suggested subject:
Please Consider Thoughtful Revisions to the Proposed Short-Term Rental Ordinance

Dear Chairman Campbell and Members of the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners,

I am a Hernando County vacation rental owner and respectfully ask that you consider thoughtful revisions to the proposed Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance.

I support responsible regulations that protect our neighborhoods, promote public safety and hold irresponsible operators accountable. However, I have concerns regarding mandatory government inspections of private homes and the creation of additional registration requirements for operators who are already licensed, insured, paying local taxes and operating responsibly.

I encourage the Board to focus enforcement on the issues that most affect neighborhoods, including nuisance properties, excessive noise, large parties, parking violations and repeat offenders, while avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens for responsible property owners.

Thank you for your service to Hernando County and for considering the perspectives of local homeowners. I respectfully ask that you continue working with property owners and professional managers to develop a balanced ordinance that protects neighborhoods while supporting responsible tourism and private property rights.

Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Property Address or City]
Hernando County Vacation Rental Owner

Make your email more effective: Add one or two sentences explaining how long you have owned your property, how you maintain it or how your rental supports local businesses and workers.

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This information is provided as a general summary of the proposed ordinance and is not legal advice. The proposal may be revised before final consideration or adoption.