Short Term Rentals

Recently Civic sent the following e-mail to the mayor and we await his response. In the meantime we would like to hear your response on the subject of short term rentals. Should the city allow a commercial motel/hotel business to operate in residential single family neighborhoods?

Dear Mayor,

Quality of Life is probably one of the most important issues to the residents of Cape Coral.

As such, the issue of short term rentals has surfaced once again as Civic has had received numerous complaints regarding the operation of a motel/hotel business in single family residential neighborhoods. Short term rentals are perceived to have a negative impact on permanent residents in neighborhoods where this activity occurs.

Cities such as Naples, Sarasota and Sanibel all have ordinances that limit single family residential rentals to a one month minimum. The City of Cape Coral limits garage sales to three per year but does not limit the number of times a home can be rented in a given time period.

This issue last came before city council on Sept. 11, 2000 with Ord. 88-2000, limiting transient commercial activity use to no less than 28 days. The ordinance was defeated on a 4-3 vote.

Please take a look at this ordinance and let me know what your position might be relative to possible renewed efforts to impose rental restrictions in single family neighborhoods.