Austin considers changes to short-term rental codes | FOX 7 Austin

Austin considers changes to short-term rental codes

The city of Austin is struggling to crackdown on unlicensed Airbnb's and Vrbo's. 

But a new proposal might do that, and help increase the housing supply.

What are proposed short-term rental changes?

What we know:

A big change could be coming to a significant number of properties throughout the city, with a new proposal to overhaul the city’s current short-term rental regulations.

A short-term rental is a property that's rented for less than 30 days. 

To achieve this, the city says its proposing three ordinances.

"We’re proposing to make short term rental use an accessory use at residential dwellings, and then move the majority of our regulations that we currently have regarding short term rental operations into our business code and away from the zoning code," said Daniel Word, Assistant Director, City of Austin Development Services Department.

Other potential changes include implementing density caps on how close a person can operate a short-term rental from another short-term rental they also own.

"On properties that have three or fewer dwelling units, an individual cannot operate another short-term rental that is within 1,000 ft of a short-term rental they already own or operate," said Word.

The city also hopes to enhance its licensing requirements and its expectations of its operators to promote responsible STR ownership and operation.

Meaning, the platforms would be required to have their license numbers listed in the advertisements, and platforms would be required to delist an advertisement if the city requests.

"There are approximately 2,200 licensed short-term rentals in the city of Austin. The city does not have access to data to determine how many are operating without a license, but we do believe a majority of short-term rentals in Austin are operating without a license," said Word.

The proposal also hopes to improve the collection of the hotel occupancy tax that is owed to the city.

What proposed Austin short-term rental changes means for owners

What they're saying:

"The owners, the operator owner's responsibility will be to document with the city the number of bookings they've had on a quarterly basis," said Word.

People who currently own a licensed short-term rental would be grandfathered into the regulations, so long as their property does not become a nuisance.

"I think if we can get better compliance with our licensing requirement, that helps even the playing field for those that already have a license," said Word.

A notice on the amendments will be mailed to property owners in the coming days.

What's next:

A public hearing is set for February 4.

City Council will have the final decision on these changes.

The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Jenna King

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