Magistrate stresses new Fort Lauderdale penalties for unpermitted vacation rentals

At the May 29, 2025 special magistrate hearing, City of Fort Lauderdale inspectors and the magistrate emphasized newly increased penalties for operating vacation rentals without a valid certificate of compliance, and ordered affected owners to either bring properties into compliance or remove listings.

Inspector Wanda Aquabella presented multiple vacation‑rental cases and told the magistrate the city seeks a $1,000‑per‑day fine when properties are advertised or operated without a current certificate. “A thousand because the city recently passed an ordinance, and it was effective, May 20,” the inspector said on the record.

In case CE25020037 (1405 Northeast Fourth Court), owner Syed Kasharofi explained permit and application issues that delayed issuance of a certificate. The magistrate told the owner that the city will not issue a vacation‑rental certificate while building permits remain open and advised immediate steps: either close the required permits or remove the online listing. The magistrate explained the path to compliance: “You have to take it down off the site, and then it'll be in compliance, and you'll have whatever time you need to get it done.”

For the cases presented, the city requested 15 days to comply or the newly established fine per day; the magistrate set the same 15‑day compliance period in several cases and suspended fines where the owner agreed to act immediately. Inspectors repeatedly advised owners to stop advertising listings while permits remain open, and to work with building and code staff to close permits before applying for a certificate.

The hearing record shows the new penalty level replacing a prior, lower fine in at least one exchange on the docket; the magistrate and staff instructed owners that closing permits or taking listings down are the quickest ways to halt daily fines and regain eligibility for any administrative remedies.