Manatee County, FL, Commissioners Order STR Draft Rules

9/8/2026

Manatee County, Florida, commissioners are moving toward new regulations for short-term rentals. Commissioners directed county staff to draft an ordinance within 30 to 45 days, while code enforcement addresses immediate noise complaints. A proposed program covering about 3,000 rentals could cost $1.5 million initially, add 11 staff positions, and require roughly $600 in fees per property. Florida law limits the county’s authority to ban rentals, cap their number, or restrict rental frequency, so officials must focus on safety, occupancy, parking, noise, and trash.

Fox 13 (Tampa Bay) (09/02/26) Matthew McClellan; Kimberly Kuizon