Owners of short-term rentals in unincorporated Lutz, Odessa and the rest of unincorporated Hillsborough County would have to register with the county, pay a $200 annual fee and designate a local contact reachable around the clock under an ordinance commissioners voted 7-0 to advance on Thursday, Aug. 6.

The proposal heads to a public hearing Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. If approved, it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, ahead of the winter rental season and spring break.

Commissioner Harry Cohen, who introduced the measure, framed it as a business regulation rather than a land-use rule. That distinction, he said, lets the county sidestep a state law that bars local governments from restricting where short-term rentals can operate.

"This is an issue that has been coming up repeatedly in many communities across Hillsborough County," Cohen said at the Aug. 6 meeting, according to Florida Politics. "There are over 3,000 short-term rentals in unincorporated Hillsborough County alone."

What the ordinance requires

Under the draft, every short-term rental owner must name a local responsible party who can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week and who must arrive at the property within one hour of a reported violation. Guests must be informed of the noise ordinance, trash and recycling schedules, and parking rules.

Owners applying for registration would need to show the property is registered with the state as a vacation rental, that tourist development taxes are being collected, and that the unit passes inspection. An owner who refuses access or blocks officers from completing a satisfactory inspection after at least three attempts could be cited. A $50 "no-show" fee applies when an owner or representative misses a scheduled inspection.

County staff told commissioners the $200-per-property fee would generate roughly $600,000 in its first full year, enough to cover the registry's startup, owner education, monitoring and inspections.

Residents say it doesn't go far enough

Not everyone is satisfied. Residents of Bay Crest Park, a single-family neighborhood in unincorporated Hillsborough, told commissioners the draft lacks mandatory fire-safety inspections before licensing, a dedicated 24/7 complaint hotline, technology-based monitoring of listing platforms and a progressive fine structure for unlicensed operators, according to WFTS.

Samantha Freeland, a 13-year Bay Crest Park resident who began organizing with neighbors Mark Kiddo and Michelle Cuilla in January, said short-term rentals in her neighborhood jumped from 91 to 121 this year. That means more than 20% of the exclusively single-family-zoned community now operates as a rental.

"I didn't buy to live next to a hotel," Freeland said at the hearing. "Every two days I have a new neighbor."

Kiddo presented Cohen with a document listing seven suggestions, including pre-licensing fire inspections and an online complaint portal similar to what Pinellas County already operates. Residents also asked Cohen to schedule an evening public meeting before September, arguing that weekday morning sessions exclude working homeowners most affected by the issue.

What happens next

The Wednesday, Sept. 2 public hearing at 10 a.m. is the next opportunity for Lutz, Odessa and other unincorporated-area residents to comment before a final vote. The ordinance is also written so the city of Tampa could opt in later. Commissioners signaled they expect to amend the rules over time as gaps emerge, and residents said they plan to push for stronger provisions at the hearing.