- Since March 27, hotels across Florida have been allowed to operate without restrictions, but rentals across the sunshine state have been forced to close
- The controversial decision sparked fierce pushbacks from property owners, management companies and some local officials, especially in the panhandle
- Gov. DeSantis said Friday that vacation rentals will soon be able to roll out the welcome mats once again
- However, any such reopening will not be extended to holidaymakers from the Big Apple, the country’s coronavirus epicentre
- As of Sunday, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida reached 42,404, with 1,827 recorded deaths
Florida is set to begin easing its ban on vacation rentals in the coming days but state Governor Ron DeSantis says lot owners can only start taking bookings again under a special condition: no New Yorkers allowed.
Since March 27, hotels across Florida have been allowed to operate without restrictions, but rental properties across the sunshine state have been forced to keep their doors locked to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The controversial decision sparked fierce pushbacks from property owners, management companies and some local officials, especially in the panhandle.
But on Friday, DeSantis provided a much welcomed update, announcing that vacation rentals could be able to roll out the welcome mats once more as early as Monday, pending final approval from county and state officials.
However, there is a catch. DeSantis insisted the reopening will not be extended to holidaymakers from the Big Apple, the country’s coronavirus epicentre.
‘If you tell me you’re going to rent them out to people from New York City, I’m probably not going to approve that, OK?’ the governor said Friday.
‘If you’re saying that you’re going to rent it out to people in other parts of Florida or something that would be manageable, if there’s ways in there that clearly you have an eye to safety, then I’m fine.’