Gulf County commissioners ask staff to draft stronger short‑term rental enforcement

Gulf County commissioners instructed staff to draft tighter rules for short‑term rentals and return with recommendations at the board's June meeting, citing advertisements that list illegal bedroom or occupancy numbers and a need for clearer enforcement tools.

The board discussed complaints about listings that advertise far higher sleeping capacity than permitted and the safety risks those conversions can create. One commissioner asked staff "to maybe look ... to start looking at short term," noting examples where properties were advertised to sleep 20 and where people have placed beds in stairwells and other unsafe locations.

County staff said the county already enforces some standards on the unincorporated side — for example, requiring off‑site parking and limiting advertised bedrooms to legal bedrooms — but acknowledged gaps where the county lacks jurisdiction (for properties inside Gulf County municipalities or certain private developments). The county attorney and administrator offered to prepare proposed ordinance amendments that would add clearer enforcement "teeth," and the commission generally authorized staff to return with a recommended ordinance, public‑hearing schedule and draft language.

Commissioners and staff also discussed requiring a local point of contact for out‑of‑state owners, and the county administrator said adding a local contact or registered agent could be folded into the county's business license or short‑term rental rules. Commissioners raised the idea of charging repeat false‑alarm fees for properties that trigger fire and law enforcement calls.

The board did not adopt a new ordinance at the meeting. Staff was directed to prepare recommended amendments and present them for advertisement and public hearings if the commission approves the draft.