Captiva could require 7 night minimum stay for vacation rentals

CAPTIVA, Fla.- A debate is brewing on Captiva Island. A community group wants a mandatory seven night minimum stay for rentals on the island.

“It’s an issue and one we want to get resolved,” said Jack Cunningham, one of ten members of the Captiva Community Panel.

The group acts as the voice for the island, telling Lee County commissioners what the people living there want to see change. The group is now working on a proposal draft that would create the seven night stay for tourists renting out residential homes or condos.

Cunningham says some of the tourists are taking advantage of the neighbors they don’t even have time to get to know.

“It’s not uncommon that they will have friends and neighbors share the costs because the costs out here are high and consequently things can be noisy or multiple cars parked out on the street or where they shouldn’t be things like that,” said Cunningham.

He says enforcing the minimum would require more of a commitment out of the tourists.

“And hopefully will abide by the type of living situation of those who do live here all the time, or during the winter would like to have as neighbors,” he said.

Cunningham says he knows some realtors and property owners who rent out their home already oppose the idea but says they will schedule a formal public comment time for the future.