Palm Coast council adopts short‑term rental rules, adds child-age exemption and fee schedule

Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday approved an amended ordinance regulating short‑term rentals and passed a companion fee resolution to fund enforcement and inspections.

The ordinance (Ordinance 2025xx) amends Chapter 17, Article 5, of the Palm Coast Code to set maximum occupancy and operational rules for short‑term vacation rentals. In the same meeting the council approved a fee structure (Resolution 2025‑xx) establishing an annual registration fee of $375 plus a $75 annual inspection fee, a $375 fee for change of ownership plus a $75 inspection, and a $35 fee to process a change of the responsible party. Staff estimated the fee structure would generate about $123,000 in the first year and said the fee will be evaluated after year one.

The ordinance drew extensive public comment from residents in Palm Coast’s established neighborhoods, who described repeated nuisance problems at neighboring rental houses and urged strict limits. “That limit of 10 is sacrosanct,” said Roger Cressy of the Canal Community Coalition, citing neighborhood complaints. Other speakers said owner‑operators who live at a property tended to keep order; owners operating remotely were described as more likely to generate problems.

Councilman John Gambaro proposed an…