Drew Dixon
Tourist-dependent St. Johns County got the green light from Florida regulators for its updated plan to reopen short-term vacation rental properties again after prohibitions instituted during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation signed off on the St. Johns County plan submitted this week. The plan went into effect on Wednesday and is in line with executive orders instituted by Gov. Ron DeSantis and allows visitors to begin renting vacation properties such as those offered by Airbnb.
Florida short term vacation rentals were banned as the COVID-19 pandemic spread in late March. Then many counties started to reopen the rentals again in late May, including St. Johns County, after DeSantis said counties could apply to reopen.
Vacation rentals are popular in the county in popular tourist spots like St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach. St. Augustine also has a large roster of bed-and-breakfast rentals.
The initial St. Johns County plan includes multiple precautions and will undergo a weekly review, according to St. Johns County officials.
One of the initial stipulations in the St. Johns County guidelines addresses tourists coming from areas known to have “substantial community spread.” The guidelines note visitors currently coming from Vermont, Connecticut, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York must adhere to quarantine restrictions while renting a vacation property in St. Johns County.
Other stipulations for property owners include:
— Maintain adequate time between the conclusion of a guest stay and the check-in of the next guest for appropriate cleaning and sanitation.
— Clean and disinfect all frequently-touched surfaces in the property between each guest stay.
— Wash all linens, dishware, and other service items available for use by guests between each rental.
— Provide sufficient soap and surface sanitation supplies for guests to utilize during their stay.
— Ensure adequate safety protocols are in place and publicly displayed, in line with CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidance, regarding shared or multi-residence amenities such as pools, gyms, and other communal spaces.
— Remote check-in and check-out must also be made available.
Complaints will be referred to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
