STR owners file federal lawsuit against FL gov actions

[Kerry Baird]

News for FLorida STR owners: "The lawsuit "seeks to protect and vindicate fundamental liberties that citizens of the United States enjoy free from government interference" and asks a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order or injunction prohibiting enforcement of the governor's order.

DeSantis issued a March 27 executive order that blocked people from renting vacation properties during the public health emergency, but he allowed hotels, motels, inns, resorts and time-share facilities to stay open.

DeSantis said the vacation-rental ban was necessary to discourage people from other states, such as COVID-19 “hotspots” Louisiana and New York, from traveling to the Sunshine State and spreading the highly contagious disease. The ban, which also prohibited advertising of rental opportunities during the duration of the order, includes an exception allowing vacation rentals for military, emergency and health workers.

The executive order was set to expire, but the governor last week extended the vacation-rental ban indefinitely.“