STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-86

(Emergency Management - COVID-19 –Additional Requirements of Certain Individuals Traveling to Florida)

WHEREAS, Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and presents with symptoms similar to those of influenza; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, I issued Executive Order number 20-51 directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, I issued Executive Order number 20-82 directing all persons from an area with substantial community spread who enter the State of Florida to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days; and

WHEREAS, as Governor, I am responsible for meeting the dangers presented to this state and its people by this emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section (1)(a) of the Florida Constitution, Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:

Section 1.

A.            I hereby direct all persons who enter the State of Florida from an area with substantial community spread, to include the State of Louisiana, inclusive of those entering the State of Florida by roadways, to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Florida or the duration of the person’s presence in the State of Florida, whichever is shorter. This section shall not apply to persons performing military, emergency, health or infrastructure response, or persons involved in any commercial activity. This Order shall take effect immediately and apply retroactively to all persons who have entered Florida after being in any area with substantial community spread. All persons isolating or quarantining under this Section shall be responsible for all costs associated with their isolation or quarantine, including transportation, lodging, food, medical care and any other expenses to sustain the person during the period of isolation or quarantine.

B.             I hereby direct all persons covered under Section 1(A) of this Order to inform any individual in Florida with whom they have had direct physical contact in the past 21 days that they traveled from an area with substantial community spread.

C.             I direct the establishment of appropriate checkpoints on the roadways for those persons and vehicles entering the State of Florida and to require those persons to provide information, including in a written form, regarding the origin of their travel and on the address of their location of isolation or quarantine for a period of 14 days. I further direct the Florida Department of Transportation to facilitate locations for appropriate checkpoints, including at welcome centers and rest stops, and to facilitate the placement of road signs and advisories to provide information on this Order and to direct traffic to the appropriate checkpoint.

D.            Pursuant to sections 252.36(5)(b) and 252.47, Florida Statutes, the Florida Highway Patrol and County Sheriffs are directed to assist with the establishment of appropriate checkpoints, the flow of traffic to those checkpoints and any enforcement actions.

Section 2. Failure to follow Section 1 of this Order is a second-degree misdemeanor pursuant to section 252.50, Florida Statutes, and is punishable by imprisonment not to exceed 60 days, a fine not to exceed $500, or both.

Section 3.

A.            Pursuant to section 252.47, Florida Statutes, I hereby direct all state, county and local law enforcement authorities to enforce this Order. Any law enforcement authority that interacts with a person in violation of Section 1(A) of this Order shall immediately report the individual, along with personal identifying and contact information, to the Florida Department of Health.

B.             Pursuant to section 381.0012(5), Florida Statutes, “it shall be the duty of every state and county attorney, sheriff, police officer, and other appropriate city and county officials upon the request to assist the Department of Health” in enforcing any isolation or quarantine, state health law and order of the Department of Health issued pursuant to this Order.

Section 4. To the extent necessary, the exceptions of this Executive Order are applicable to Executive Order 20-80, Section 1(A) and 20-82, Section 1(A).

Section 5. This Executive Order shall expire upon the expiration of Executive Order

20-52, including any extensions, or upon an Executive Order lifting the isolation or quarantine after advice from the State Health Officer and Surgeon General.

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-87

(Emergency Management - COVID-19 – Vacation Rental Closures)

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-51 directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and

           WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

           WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

           WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued the “15 Days to Slow the Spread” guidance advising individuals to adopt far-reaching social distancing measures; and

           WHEREAS, the CDC has cautioned against non-essential travel within the United States; and

WHEREAS, Florida is experiencing an increase in individuals fleeing to Florida from out-of-state locations where “shelter-in-place” orders are being implemented and/or community spread exists; and

WHEREAS, many cases of COVID-19 in Florida have resulted from individuals coming into the State of Florida from international travel and other states, posing great risk to Florida residents; and

WHEREAS, vacation rentals and third-party platforms advertising vacation rentals in Florida present attractive lodging destinations for individuals coming into Florida; and

           WHEREAS, as Governor, I am responsible for meeting the dangers presented to this state and its people by this emergency.

           NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section (1)(a) of the Florida Constitution, Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:

Section 1.       Vacation Rentals

I hereby order all parties engaged in rental of vacation rental properties, as defined in section 509.242(1)(c), Florida Statutes, to suspend vacation rental operations. Vacation rentals are prohibited from making new reservations or bookings and shall not accept new guests for check-in for the duration of this order. This directive shall include the:

                                                                      A.                   Rental of any house, condominium, cooperative, or dwelling unit that is also a transient public lodging establishment, as defined under Section 509.013(4)(a), Florida Statutes; and

                             i.                   Which is rented for periods of less than 30 days or 1 calendar month, whichever is less; or

                            ii.                   Which is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests; or

                         iii.                   Which is otherwise regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (“DBPR”) as a vacation rental pursuant to section 509.241, Florida Statutes.

 B.                   This directive shall not include the following:

                             i.                   Hotels, motels, inns, resorts, non-transient public lodging establishments, or time share projects; or

                            ii.                   Long-term rentals; or

                        iii.                   Rental stays where guests are currently staying in a vacation rental or have previously booked a stay and are schedule to check-in no later than March 28, 2020; or

                          iv.                   Rentals to persons performing military, emergency, governmental, health or infrastructure response, or travelers engaged in non-vacation commercial activities.

Section 2.       Violations of the Order

A.     DBPR shall supplement this directive with guidance or directives as necessary to implement the order and shall take steps necessary to inspect licensed properties or third-party platforms whereby Florida vacation rentals may be advertised.

B.      DBPR shall revoke the vacation rental license of any party that violates this order or otherwise advertises vacation rental opportunities during the duration of this order; and

C.      DBPR shall alert the state authorities to evidence of violations or attempts to violate this order; and

D.     Parties that violate this order or attempt to violate the order through advertising or other means of solicitation may be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable as provided in Sections 775.082 or 775.083, Fla. Stat.

Section 3.       This Executive Order shall expire in 14 days unless extended by subsequent order.

Under Florida law, correspondence with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which is neither confidential nor exempt pursuant to Florida Statutes Chapter 119, is a public record made available upon request.

For anyone who rents their unit, whether directly or through a management company, the information below is important to track when taking reservation.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued the following Executive Order. Self-Quarantine Notice: On March 23, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order ("Order") whereby all persons entering the State of Florida whose point of departure from outside the State of Florida is within an area with substantial community spread (including but not limited to Connecticut, New Jersey and New York) are required to isolate or quarantine themselves for a period of 14 days from the date of entry into the State of Florida or the duration of the person's presence in Florida, whichever is shorter. The order took effect on March 24, 2020 at 12:01 A.M. Any person who violates the order to isolate or quarantine directed by the Department of Health is guilty of a misdemeanor which is punishable by imprisonment and fines. Any guest, owner or other individual reasonably believed to be in violation of the Order will be reported to law enforcement and/or health officials who are, by the Order, empowered to effectuate its mandates.

We were notified that another local resort had guests check in from New York. They were informed of the executive order, however chose not to comply.

The property then notified the Department of Health, who contacted the guests and placed them on notice that if they violate the Executive Order the Panama City Beach Police will be notified to make an arrest.

We share this in order to notify owners and management companies to be prudent renting their units or allowing guests from areas with substantial community spread (including but not limited to Connecticut, New Jersey and New York) . Short term rentals may become long term financial obligations. The federal government has stopped all evictions until this crisis is over.

As you can see, this is an alarming situation. Our staff is working diligently to protect the property and remain safe. They are working feverishly to clean common areas to help mitigate the risk of anyone becoming infected.

Here is how you can help.

1. Communicate to anyone in your unit this information. This includes those that are renting your unit on a long term basis.

2. Notify your cleaners and vendors if possible that you are postponing their services until further notice, unless such cleaning is necessary for health and safety reasons.

3. Follow the lead of many of your fellow owners and postpone rentals and occupancy of your units until the crisis has passed. The short term pain may help you mitigate long-term losses.

4. You may wish to contact your insurance about lost rental revenues, similar to what occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and support during this time.