Update from the Codes Compliance Department: a case has been opened and is being investigated for this reported location. Any further updates or action will be handled by the Codes department. To track the status of this case, or to find contact information for the assigned investigator, click here:

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=17&caseNumber=27997

or call 727-893-7373 and refer to the above case number.

Codes Compliance 6 assigned this issue to Rob G

This has been a chronic problem for 3 years....

Wow, 3 years! Another one to document now there are so few of us licensed b&b’s left while these continue to operate for years all over. What a failure as they are winning with ineptitude. Than you St. Pete. Need to find the inspector assigned for this too

Rollie - would love your help with the continued monitoring and reporting of this problem. One single citation will not stop this guy....he does not believe that rules apply to him.

There are many that don't believe that rules apply to them. This needs to stop and a slap on the hand will do nothing to deter his actions.

I want to thank the city for me continuing to ask why an I licensing my b&b, inspected, etc while this continues. Already had zoning overlook something. I have had it!! How many times have we been on the news? Next week i will be in there

A new set of Air BnB guests checked in today.......different set of guests from last week....and the week before....and the week before that.

Why am I not surprised. Come on Codes Compliance. This guy has no regard for the law and your lack of a quick response has this guy continuing to do as he pleases.

The city needs to get this place shut down-they just have to check with Pinellas County and they have the records on how much bed tax was collected-AIRBNB automically takes out the bed tax when a property rents thru their company-enough is enough

Still advertising for daily rent at $160/night. The greyed out calendar dates in Dec show it's booked through December.

Try to find out who the codes inspector on this case and send him/her this copy. Sorry but if codes does not get started on this case we might need to contact the mayor's office directly

It appears that they are moving forward in the process. This link takes you straight to the incident:

REINSPECTION 12/01/2017 Pending

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=17&caseNumber=27997

How about a lawsuit with restitution to neighborhood for all the money that this guy has made. Records of that should be easy enough to get! The money can be use to sue the lawbreakers and keep the neighborhoods clear of this stuff once and for all.

I'd be supportive of that.
Many other cities including New Orleans, DC, NYC have enforcement task groups who work to shut this stuff down as it's so problematic.

St. Pete has made it very, very difficult to enforce this law.

How is this compliant and why is the City not enforcing the existing Code?

The city is making it easy for this owner to do as he pleases. Time to file a class action suit against the city for non-enforcement of laws on the books.

Nothing has changed. Still advertising for rental as a daily hotel.

Enforce the Code.

You want the city to enforce the code? Really? Maybe it's time to file a class action lawsuit against the city. Maybe then they will stop picking and choosing what they Want to enforce.

Ad is still active...here is the link to Air BnB with the ad.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2384507

Why is the latest status reflecting this short-term rental as "ad was removed" when it clearly was NOT?

This isn't difficult information to find....I suggest that you save the link.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1594199

Enforce the code.

Correction to link: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2384507

Issue 3934456 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Please enforce the code on this and noise- while visiting a friend we had to endure loud "band music" at late hours and the guests staying is not legal. Come on.

New guests checked in yesterday; North Carolina plates - HF-3903; huge black truck doesn’t fit into the driveway and hangs into alley;

Truck is too large for driveway hangs into the alley

This is utterly ridiculous. This guy is continuing to violate the city codes. The city needs to get off their butts and enforce the code.

Email each and every council member at council@stpete.org

I have sent them an email myself. It is just pure ineptitude.

Is only going to get worse.

We need to sue the city. I'm over this problem.

Great idea! They aren't going to pay attention until it is a cost for them.

Issue 3369259 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 3997218 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 3997218 is a completely separate issue -- Junk in the front yard is not the same as reporting an Air BnB. Not sure why this was merged as it is a completely separate issue.

Granted, due to the many, many problems generated by this resident, I'm sure it's easier to combine ALL the issues into one Issue.

Another Air BnB guest illegally renting this property. Connecticut plates.

Air BnB renter from last week....

Issue 4008377 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Transient renter from Connecticut still staying at this illegal Air BnB....

When will you enforce the code?

The AirBnB has been vacant for a week. They checked in on Jan. 07.

This makes it a violation to the 'no less than 30 days' rule.

Issue 4215998 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

What is the city doing to enforce the code prohibiting short-term rentals?

Another short term rental guest....

The issue that you reported previously has been addressed by the City, and this open work order is now closed. Please feel free to submit future requests to us via SeeClickFix St. Pete, and thanks again!

What action was taken to cause this to be closed?

I would like to know as well? Why have I been paying the city a business license for a B&B?!? Why are there so few left? There is a reason we are zoned differently. Who wants to live next door to a house where it is a revolving door of partiers. All they need is a smoke detector while we are required tihave sprinklers, fire system, etc. You can answer now or when I bring the news crew around.

Reopen is acknowledged

As Usual the city ignores real problems and people who break rules, laws, and codes. These rules are in place for a reason but the city has such a lack of leadership nothing is done. Our mayor and city council have forgotten they are responsible to the residents of this city, They have forgotten that the people will expect answers. allowing an illegal business to keep operating after so so so many complaints and doing nothing is a dis-service to the neighbors who have to deal with the "visitors" and a slap in the face to the respectable, legal businesses that follow the rules, laws and codes. It appears this city is willing to bend over backwards to accommodate people who have no respect for the rules and other residents. Let's get a news crew and have them highlight this illegal "business" and the mountain of complaints that has been ignored over and over again. It's about time the city steps up and does what is right.

It amazes me that the city is continuing to ignore this issue. This person is making money off the property and not paying applicable taxes or meeting the legal requirements to be a B&B. The original notice was filed back in November of 2017 and here it is May of 2018. I think 6 months without a proper resolution is absolutely ridiculous. This needs to be made public so that people can see how our city leaders are picking and choosing the laws it wants to enforce.

Upon receipt of a violation notice from our department, the advertisement for the Airbnb listing was updated, requiring a minimum stay of a monthly term. The calendar/booking tool was also updated and does not allow a booking to be requested unless it is for a term of 30+ days. As of 4/30/18, the calendar does not currently reflect that there are any future dates blocked out for a period less than 30 days. At this time, the department has not been able to obtain any further evidence that the property is either advertised, or being utilized, for short-term rentals in violation of the code. Many of the photographs supplied within these comments of various vehicles at the property appear to be more than a month apart. Additionally, the property can be occupied for a term less than monthly, as long as it is not re-let to another occupant within the same monthly term.

Except for the fact that it is constantly being "re-let" to new occupants during the same monthly term. The photos confirm this is happening!

Additionally, you require fire code standards for other Bed & Breakfast and small hotel businesses, health inspections and licenses -- but this guy is running what is in essence an illegal hotel and it's allowed.

But, the city continues to do NOTHING except for making excuses.

The City also allowed the illegal building of a second story with zero repercussions. There was never an inspection completed on electrical, plumbing, HVAC, foundation or structural support. Please do show proof as to where these inspections were done?

For some reason - this guy gets a pass on absolutely everything that no one else in the city of st. Petersburg ever receives.

According to the "30-day Rental Rule" -- no resident is allowed to rent their home more than 3x per year.

This is clearly in excess of that rule - or do you have yet another excuse for why this allowed?

Wouldn't renting for less than 30-days violate the 30-day minimum code rule? The purpose and point of the law?

So which is it in regards to the actual Code? No less than 30 days 3x per year--- which is what I was told by the head of Codes--- or just allow the rental of a house as often as you feel like it because Codes won't enforce it anyway?

What's the point of checking the Air BnB calendar for a 30-day rental compliance if you contradict yourself by saying that the less than 30-days rule doesn't really matter?

Besides "checking the AirBnB calendar" -- what exactly has Codes and Zoning actually done to ensure compliance to this law? Based on the amount of activity coming and going from that property -- my best guess is:
Not. Much.

I am meeting with

Here is the deal, and I went through this myself. So long as you do not out right advertise rental on a daily bases, rather on a monthly or long term bases...that is what the city says complies with code. You belly aching about it, only makes this stupid. You may be a legitimate B&B and you may be loosing money, but I doubt it....your just @#$% that you spend all this money in compliance, and someone in your back yard is making a buck or two too without jumping hoops. This is the future coming at you, just like the Taxi service is experiencing it with Uber. The Code can be changed, and unfortunately for you this is the land of the free, home of the brave and we are suppose to have constitutional rights under the law. All laws are man made, and the code, is not a law, it establishes what is expected in a particular residential area. The code is created by people who govern all peoples rights, and yours included as well as a single home owner. So yes, the Airbnb guy has rights too.

Oh sweet, I got blocked because I am standing up for the rights of people, both yours and mine.....Maybe it is a TM I moment and the truth hurts.

I have right too. I have the right to not be forced to live next door to an illegal hotel which is flagrantly ignoring the established code of no short-term rentals.....

You also have the right to sell, and leave if it is too painful to live with other peoples right to exists.

Hey, I am selling my property....Saint Pete is not all that is cracked up to be, have you looked at the traffic lately on 4th street? Totally mind boggling.

Any other use only allows for up to 3 rentals of less than 30 days in a 1 year period. How many of these airbnb's are claiming homestead fully? So you are selling your property and don't like St. Pete? The art of contradiction.

My other question is, what if you have a child living next door and a sex offender stays next door through airbnb and is than gone? A homeowner has that right to feel free living in their home.

John - it appears that your sole purpose of commenting is to sow discourse and to be argumentative. Whatever the case, since you are moving, you should take your opinions and comments with you.

I don't plan on moving nor should I have to, simply because my city refuses to enforce the existing code.

Nor -- should I simply have to tolerate the bullsh*t I have had to contend with living next to the nightmare that the city has essentially allowed to exist.

My exit strategy is to leave this place, but at the same time the thing I hate most.....Profit mongers crying a poor mouth because the future is next door. Why don't you read the code sometime and see for yourself, all this wine, does not get better with time.

1. Number one, they would need a court order in order to enter the establishment, review the bank records and the history of all rentals....and the city does not have the right to do so.

2. However, if it is advertised clearly for over night use .....I mean advertise....then they clearly have violated code. If they advertise nothing regarding over night, or day or weekend.......rather a preference for people to stay with them for 30 days or more...there is clearly no violation. So that is why there is no code violation even if it clearly occurs in real life which you have to prove without a shadow of a doubt that people are coming and going. However, you cannot violate their right to invade their privacy. Then you have violated the law, and subject to prosecution.

3. Catch 22.

Now if you where a lawyer..... you would agree with this statement no matter what your feels are on the subject.

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John - you are definitely not a lawyer and I am not interested in your opinions.

At least you know understand......... It is a no win situation.

The issue that you reported previously has been addressed by the City, and this open work order is now closed. Please feel free to submit future requests to us via SeeClickFix St. Pete, and thanks again!

Thanks for fixing this request!

This is issue is NOT fixed.

RE-Open

This report is being closed because it is already tied to SeeClickFix request # 4635450.
Update from the Codes Compliance Department: a case has been opened and is being investigated for this reported location. Any further updates or action will be handled by the Codes department. To track the status of this case, or to find contact information for the assigned investigator, click here:

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=18&caseNumber=16920

or call 727-893-7373 and refer to the above case number.

Thank you.

This is a chronic, nuisance property with excessive noise, band practice -- the home owner is a musician and has regular band practice at his residence. Illegal parking in neighbor's driveways from guests renting his house via Air BnB and illegal parking in the alley.
Loud parties with excessive noise.

This issue needs to be resolved.