Marathon officials have scheduled a public workshop on vacation-rental rules and enforcement, while the City Council also considered whether to bring more finance work in-house. At a recent meeting, council members discussed rental licensing, the cost of current finance services and affordable-housing challenges across the Middle Keys.
Key takeaways
The workshop is intended to clarify how Marathon regulates vacation rentals. Council discussions also covered finance staffing and the pressures facing local workforce housing.
- The vacation-rental workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m.
- Most rentals must be booked for at least seven nights and no more than 28 nights.
- Marathon’s finance department has four full-time employees, and its director said another staff member could be useful.
- The council reaffirmed its commitment to workforce housing, including agreements that keep some properties affordable over time.
Workshop will cover vacation-rental rules
Vice Mayor Debra Struyf said the special workshop would provide transparency about the city’s rules and how they are enforced. City officials said rentals of fewer than seven nights are prohibited; stays generally may not exceed 28 nights.
A rental property must have both a city vacation-rental license and a state license. Occupancy is generally limited to two people per bedroom, plus two additional guests. The city also requires a sign at the property with information for a local manager available around the clock, and rental advertisements must display the city permit number.
Residents can use Marathon’s online portal to check licensed properties or report suspected unpermitted rentals. Struyf said she knew of 15 applicants who had been denied a city license.
Council weighs finance staffing options
Councilman Kenny Matlock raised the possibility of establishing an in-house finance department. Finance Director Jennifer Johnson said the department currently has four full-time employees and could use a fifth, while the city contracts for most services with Marathon-based Bishop, Rosasco and Co.
Johnson put the city’s finance cost at $458,000, with annual increases of 3.4%. She contrasted that figure with Islamorada’s $700,000 in annual accountant pay. City Manager Steve Williams said staff reviews the arrangement’s costs and benefits each year, noting that Johnson also manages grant applications and reporting.
Housing costs and development considerations
Housing coordinator and Realtor Josh Mothner briefed council members on affordable-housing issues, including where building rights might be used. He also discussed 100 combined early-evacuation building permits in Key Colony Beach and Layton and their implications for density and safety planning.
Mothner cited monthly market rents of $4,463 to $4,800 for three properties, while acknowledging that many people would not consider those amounts affordable. Council members reiterated support for workforce housing and noted that some agreements require properties to remain affordable in perpetuity.