Code Board Enforces Short-Term Rental ViolationsBy Carl Wagenfohr CLEARWATER - The city's Municipal Code Enforcement Board took action against two violators of Clearwater's ban on short-term residential rentals at their March 25th meeting. The city cited the Clearwater Beach properties at 906 Bruce Avenue and 822 Eldorado Avenue not because they had been rented for a period of less than 30 days, but because they had been advertised as available for weekly rentals. That advertising was described by city Code Inspector Shelby Brown as "prima fascie evidence of the intent to use the property for a non-permitted use." The advertising of both properties had been discovered by members of the Clearwater Beach Association (CBA) and brought to the attention of the city's Neighborhood Services department. The Code Enforcement Board found both parties guilty of violating the city's short-term rental ban, fining the owner of 822 Eldorado $500 because of past offenses. The owner of 906 Bruce was not fined because there had not been other violations in the last 5 years and because the offending advertising had been stopped. "Short-term rental is an issue we have been actively engaged in for a number of years, and we are very pleased that the city has taken this to the Code Enforcement Board, and with the decision of the Board," said CBA Board member Ron Delp. He added that the CBA's short-term rental committee will continue to monitor the neighborhood for violations and notify the city of all suspected attempts to rent residential property for periods of less than 30 days. |