Panama City Beach STR occupancy restrictions, wrong?

[Jeremiah Dye]

It’s beginning to be clear that Panama City Beach, Fl does not want lower end vacation rentals. We had invested in an older beach front condo building. Originally a motel. Our place is a 300sqft studio with a kitchenette. Affordable beachside vacations. The city has begun onerous regulations. I get having to pay the taxes. But restrictions on occupancy has really hit our potential guests. The city council and fire dept, have misinterpreted a life and safety code and is restricting 1 person per 150 sqft. They are allowing us to round up, so we are only allowed to have 3 persons, regardless of age. We had to turn away a military family of 4, we were the only place in their budget that was on the beach. Panama City beach is the only municipality I can find that has made these occupancy restrictions. Others are 4 people per bathroom in Florida. I understand over crowding vacation rentals or party houses in residential neighborhoods. But they don’t require these restrictions on hotels and motels. We once stayed in a hotel with several bunk beds, 4 showers. In a space that was just a bit larger than 300sqft. They are also now requiring fire sprinklers and fire alarms regardless of the building type if it’s more than 1 story tall. Pool inspections, deck inspections, Florida business licenses and Florida hospitality license.

Does anyone know what profession can set a building and space’s occupancy? I have read and watched videos on the life and safety code and it’s not based on square footage but by space design. Door width, stair width, exit width. And the 150sqft per person is just the minimum occupancy not the maximum.

Sorry for the length, but we are loosing money and need help!

Jeremiah

[Kerry Baird]

@Jeremiah Dye, my FL municipality also changed the occupancy to 8 people.  My big house can sleep 21.  I typically have a set or two of grandparents, parents and kids.  Many municipalities are using onerous regulations to make it difficult to stay in compliance.  The Governor supports tourism, but many localities do not.