As Delaware vacation rentals reopen, short-term rentals in Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont reopen with restrictions

Short-term rentals in Delaware can resume operations beginning June 1 after Governor John Carney ended the state’s stay-at-home order and lifted restrictions on commercial lodging related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carney also ended a mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors.

On April 6, Carney closed all commercial lodging, including hotels and vacation rentals, to leisure guests.

In Florida, several counties have lifted the ban on vacation rentals after Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida counties may submit proposals for doing so. So far, the state has approved the plans of 50 of Florida’s 67 counties.

Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, DeSoto, Leon, Polk, Pasco, and Seminole counties are the latest to get the green light for vacation rentals to reopen, effective immediately.

In all counties whose reopening plans have been approved, hosts are discouraged from renting to guests from national COVID-19 hot spot areas named by DeSantis, including Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York. Some counties have specifically banned guests from states that have 700 or more cases per 100,000 residents, which would include Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C.

DeSantis shut vacation rentals down March 27, and extended the order through the first phase of the state’s reopening plan. The state moved to its Full Phase 1 plan May 18. Hotels, motels, inns, and other short-term accommodations have been allowed to stay open.

Short-term rentals in Maine are allowed to offer lodging beginning June 1, but only for Maine residents or travelers from elsewhere who have completed a 14-day quarantine once they enter the state. The quarantine requirement is expected to last through June.

Governor Janet Mills issued an order for short-term rentals and other lodgings to suspend operations beginning April 5, with exemptions for health care and other essential workers, vulnerable populations, state-arranged quarantine accommodations, and limited extenuating circumstances.

New Hampshire vacation rentals may resume operations starting June 5 for in-state residents and out-of-state residents who have quarantined for 14 days, Governor Chris Sununu announced May 29. Sununu ordered vacation rentals and hotels to suspend operations, with exemptions for certain guests, on April 6.

In New Mexico, short-term rentals may again accept guests, but only if they are New Mexico residents. The state Department of Health issued a public health order April 6 that closed short-term rentals of rooms, apartments, and houses.

Starting May 22, Vermont short-term rentals are allowed to accept guests who are Vermont residents or those from other locations who have completed a 14-day quarantine prior to staying at commercial lodgings.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott ordered all lodging to close effective March 30. Under the order, short-term rental properties were allowed to provide accommodations for health care and other essential workers, state-arranged shelter, and limited extenuating circumstances.