Despite preemptive state legislation on the horizon, the city of Anna Maria is increasing registration fees for vacation rentals in the municipality.
City commissioners unanimously voted March 14 to adopt a resolution establishing vacation rental registration fees for 2024-25.
The city’s rental registration fees are based on maximum allowed occupancy.
Each property begins with a base occupancy of two people, plus another two people per bedroom, resulting in a minimum occupancy of four people.
Under the newly adopted registration fees, vacation rental owners will be charged $93.92 per allowed occupant — an 11.5% increase over last year’s $84.17 registration fee.
The fees are prorated to cover the cost of enforcing the VRO, as well as inspections and lobbying costs associated with short-term rentals.
A vacation rental property with one bedroom has an occupancy of four and a fee of $375.68 for 2024-25. A property with the same occupancy would have paid $336.68 for 2023-24.
Mayor Dan Murphy said the city’s highest occupancy vacation rental could have up to 22 occupants due to a property right claim against the city.
The owner/manager of that property will have to pay $2,066.24 this year.
There were 736 vacation rentals registered in the city as of March 18, according to city clerk LeAnne Addy, compared to 734 registered vacation rentals through February 2023.
Vacation rental owners must register their properties by applying and paying the registration fee by 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1.