Holmes Beach Lifts Vacation Rental Moratorium Early, Welcoming Tourists Back to Town
HOLMES BEACH — In a proactive move to support tourism recovery, Holmes Beach commissioners voted unanimously to lift a moratorium on vacation rentals 16 days ahead of schedule, allowing rental properties to reopen to tourists as of Nov. 2. Initially set to end mid-November, the moratorium was introduced on Oct. 2 in response to the extensive damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The decision, made at a special meeting on Oct. 29, came after Mayor Judy Titsworth expressed confidence that the city's initial hurricane recovery benchmarks would be met by early November. She noted that with the first round of debris removal nearly complete, it was safe to begin accepting tourists again. Titsworth highlighted that property owners must assess the readiness of their rentals, allowing guests to return responsibly.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer supported the early lifting, explaining that as Anna Maria Elementary School plans to reopen on Nov. 4, it indicates a broader safety readiness for visitors. Tokajer emphasized the importance of shifting responsibility to property owners to perform due diligence for rental safety.
Holmes Beach stood alone among the three cities on Anna Maria Island in enacting a rental ban after the storms, aiming to give the community time to focus on recovery without the pressures of tourism. The early lifting of the moratorium was met with gratitude from business owners who had been hard-hit by the storms and had experienced revenue losses due to cancellations and refunds.
Vacation rental owner Nicole Kaleta, one of many whose businesses faced financial strain, thanked city officials for their efforts. Though her company plans to hold off on taking reservations until mid-November, the removal of the moratorium allows more flexibility for existing reservations. Similarly, restaurateur Sean Murphy expressed appreciation for the city’s dedication to cleanup and advocated for the moratorium’s end as a way to help local businesses rebound.
With the moratorium lifted, Holmes Beach is once again welcoming visitors, marking a significant milestone in the city’s journey to full recovery.