Final short-term rentals voting in Dallas set to take place next week

Dallas - The Dallas City Council is set to cast their votes on a potential ordinance on June 14, aiming to curtail most short-term rentals in residential zones.

A pair of proposals will be in the limelight for the vote: one being the recommendation put forward by the Dallas City Plan Commission during their April assembly, and the other an upcoming suggestion from the city staff to be released by the week's end. The Council retains the option to amalgamate both these proposals prior to the June 14 meeting.

For the past three years, new rules for short-term rentals - a category that includes properties listed on platforms like Airbnb - have been in the pipeline. Residents have consistently expressed apprehensions about the adverse effects of these rentals, citing issues like noise pollution, increased traffic, and safety risks in their localities. Meanwhile, those operating these short-term rentals have advocated for more stringent regulations instead of a blanket ban, highlighting the significant revenue losses such a ban would precipitate.

In an earlier briefing on a tentative short-term rental ordinance in April, the Council was apprised of regulations concerning rental locations. However, the vote on this ordinance, originally slated for April 12, was postponed to allow for comprehensive research. Following another briefing on June 7 regarding short-term rentals, council members remained split on whether to back the planning commission's proposal or to push the vote back for additional deliberation.

City Manager T.C. Broadnax confirmed that the vote is scheduled for the upcoming week, intending to resolve the short-term rental issue with the current council before the induction of newly elected members.

Under the recommendation put forward in April, short-term rentals would primarily be confined to central-area, mixed-use, multiple commercial, and urban corridor zones. As per the proposed zoning map, short-term rentals in Lake Highlands and Lakewood would be nearly eliminated, except for areas along US 75. Each short-term rental, whether it be a full or partial unit, would need to provide one off-street parking spot.

The proposal mandates all short-term rental proprietors and hosts to submit an annual application for the registration of their properties with the city. Post each registration or renewal, Code Compliance Services would carry out an inspection of the respective property, as indicated in the documents from the April meeting.

The occupancy for short-term rentals would be restricted to three individuals per bedroom and would demand a minimum rental period of two nights. The proposal also stipulates that no amplified sound audible beyond the boundaries of the property would be permissible between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

In May, the Plano City Council greenlit a temporary halt on short-term rentals ahead of its voting session on a registration ordinance set for June 26. In the same month, the Coppell City Council put forth a new procedure akin to a zoning alteration for those interested in registering their homes as short-term rentals.

As of January, Richardson has adopted new regulations for short-term rentals, encompassing stricter registration norms and possible fines. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth City Council endorsed an ordinance to limit short-term rentals in residential areas in February.

The Dallas City Council is scheduled to convene at City Hall at 9 a.m. on June 14 to discuss and possibly vote on the short-term rental ordinance. Residents wishing to express their views at the meeting can register via the Dallas City Hall website, by sending an email to secspeakerrequest@dallas.gov, or by dialing 214-670-3738. The cutoff for registration is 5 p.m. on June 13.

Content credit: Dallas Metro News, Dallas News, Fox 4 News, NBC DFW