City Council voted Thursday to approve a series of regulations for short-term rental properties, taking the next step in advancing changes that were kicked off by a February vote. The resolution, which collected several amendments and had others withdrawn or voted down, was approved 10-0, with Council Member Marc Duchen abstaining. The new ordinance updates […]
short term rentals
Properties rented for fewer than 30 days.
Posted inCity Council
Council to vote on stricter licensing, platform rules for short-term rentals
City Council on Thursday will consider the next steps in short-term rental regulations, which were initiated by a February vote. The proposed ordinance would impose new licensing and eligibility standards, add enforcement mechanisms and expand regulatory obligations for platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. If approved, the new rules will take effect in two stages, with […]
Posted inCity Council
Council sets the stage for more short-term rental regulations, with tax collection to begin in April
The city will soon begin requiring platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues on behalf of short-term rental properties, marking the first in a number of expected changes in the industry. The change, which goes into effect April 1, is aimed at closing loopholes that have allowed thousands […]
Posted inCity Council
Council will likely delay implementing new STR rules pending legislative action
Austin City Council today will consider an overhaul of the city’s short-term rental regulations but is expected to delay implementing most changes until the summer. At Tuesday’s work session, Mayor Kirk Watson suggested pausing the new rules pending the outcome of several STR-related bills before the state Legislature. “There are some key aspects of what […]
Posted inHousing
Planning Commission hears complaints, offers amendments on new STR ordinance in marathon hearing
Over the course of more than three hours, the Planning Commission heard often rancorous public comments on a new ordinance that would regulate short-term rentals, then voted to recommend 11 of their own amendments to the ordinance at its regular meeting on Feb. 11. The proposed ordinance would attempt to bring short-term rentals, or STRs, […]
Posted inHousing
City considers new STR rules requiring oversight from platforms
The city’s proposed overhaul of regulations for short-term rental properties could tighten licensing requirements, impose new restrictions on ownership, and shift enforcement responsibilities onto rental platforms. Members of City Council and the Planning Commission got a detailed look at the possible changes last week during a joint meeting that served as the first public hearing […]
Posted inHousing
City outlines proposed code changes to regulate short-term rentals
The city plans to move forward with an overhaul of its short-term rental regulations, with public hearings beginning next month to discuss the code amendments under consideration to manage the industry and collect Hotel Occupancy Tax from the more than 10,000 STRs believed to be operating throughout the area. The proposed changes are outlined in […]
Posted inHousing
Questions on short-term rental rules linger as city moves toward new regulations
A city memo published earlier this month suggests that, more than a decade after Austin became a leading destination in the market for short-term rentals, City Council could have code language later this year to comprehensively regulate the industry. The memo, from Assistant City Manager Veronica Briseño, offers little insight into how the city will […]
Posted inPlanning
Following HOME 2 passage, advocates seek Council action on short-term rentals
Members of the Tourism Commission are pushing City Council to move forward with an agreement with short-term rental platforms that could make it possible for the city to more easily regulate the thousands of unlicensed homes operating as lodging businesses across Austin. Earlier this month, Bishop Chappell – a commissioner and also a member of […]
Posted inHousing
Tourism Commission proposes easier licensing among short-term rental solutions
The Tourism Commission has given City Council a list of 10 recommendations regarding the growing short-term rental economy. It stops short of pushing for formal agreements with vacation rental websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. The recommendations, which were created by an STR working group and adopted at Wednesday’s commission meeting, focused on three priorities: […]
Posted inHousing
Short-term rentals come under Tourism Commission scrutiny, with Council action expected this year
Members of the Tourism Commission signaled this week that they intend to ask City Council to pursue new policies covering the short-term rental industry and the proliferation across the city of residences acting as de facto hotels. At Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners heard from residents, including Stephanie Ashworth, co-founder of the Austin-based Texas Neighborhood Coalition, who […]
Posted inHousing
Tourism Commission joins staff in push for agreement with short-term rental companies
The Tourism Commission appears ready to push the city to come to an agreement with short-term rental platforms that will allow some regulation of the industry and allow the collection of millions of dollars in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue each year. Last week, the commission voted to form a working group focused on the long-standing […]