The complaint has been filed and a
decision should be made by Monday on the constitutionality of the short term
rental ban.
Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-112 and
unveiled the first step of a phased approach to re-opening the state. Phase 1
became effective May 4, 2020. The order includes a ban on short term vacation
rentals while allowing hotels, motels, timeshares, and other entities to be
rented. This ban leaves thousands of Florida vacation rental units empty, potentially
financially destroying the citizens who own or manage them. The constitutionality
of this order is being contested by a group of rental owner/managers from the panhandle.
Attorneys filed a complaint Wednesday night and a companion
document to ask the court for expedited attention was filed the next day. The
lawsuit is about lifting the short term vacation rental ban and several
outcomes to the expedited route may be anticipated. The judge may uphold the Governor’s
original order, the judge may enact a stay order which would alleviate the ban pending
further litigation, or Governor DeSantis may overturn the ban completely. The
media has been ramping up pressure by making the public aware of the discrepancies
in the order and how it affects the Florida economy.
Now that everything is filed, the next step is waiting for judge
to rule on the stay order, hopefully by Monday. We will keep you informed the moment
anything arises.
