Petition for Polk County properties in Winter Haven, Florida to have an STR (Short Term Rental) approval:

We are property owners, hosts, contractors, and employees who rely on short-term rentals (STRs); small business owners, neighbors, and community members who benefit from STRs; and residents who appreciate the substantial and irreplaceable economic and cultural benefits STRs bring to our community in Winter Haven.

We are petitioning for a fair, forward-thinking STR ordinance for the City of Winter Haven that protects property rights and encourages entrepreneurship.

We support agreements between the City of Winter Haven, Polk County, and online travel agency platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect Hotel Occupancy Taxes ("HOT") directly through their booking systems. HOT sustains shared amenities for our entire community, such as support for arts and cultural institutions. STR operators are proud to contribute our fair share.

We support responsible renting practices and the enforcement of existing nuisance laws. The City already has tools at its disposal to combat nuisance properties. Still, we believe STRs should be a leave-no-trace activity, and responsible hosts are committed to being great neighbors.

It is through this fair and solution-focused lens that we ask the Polk County Counsel to take this valuable opportunity to create a reasonable, forward-thinking approach to an ordinance that works for all for years to come.