Shelter Bay does not allow short-term rental of homes, including Airbnb, VRBO, or similar arrangements, for periods shorter than 30 days. This is addressed in the Covenants and the Rules and Regulations, which all residents of Shelter Bay should be familiar with. Shelter Bay does allow long-term rentals which are more consistent with a residential community.
Why the restriction? Short-term rentals are restricted to help:
- Maintain a quiet, residential atmosphere
- Reduce traffic and unknown visitors in our community
- Ensure neighbors know who is living around them
- Protect our shared amenities and infrastructure
- Ensure that emergency contact information is on file for all residents, including tenants
Also, if a member rents their property, including private docks, it is the member’s, or their designee’s, responsibility to have a signed Tenant Information Form on file in the office. This provides vital information to the office, including contact information in case of an emergency. Of note, tenants will not have access to the community amenities, such as the pool and sports courts, without there being a current Tenant Information Form on file. The member must also ensure tenants follow all Shelter Bay Covenants and Rules and Regulations.
Finally, the Rules and Regulations outline the fines for violation of short-term rental requirements, amounting to $500 for the 1st offense, and $1,500 for each subsequent offense. The members also remain responsible for any violation of the Rules and Regulations by their tenants, including any fines levied for issues including nuisance/excessive noise, loose pets, and unkempt lots, to name the more frequent violations.
Mike Shannon, Board Member and Chair, Architectural Compliance Committee
