HOUSTON, Texas – Proposed changes to how short-term rentals operate in the city of Houston have stalled at city council.
On Wednesday, April 2, council members did not vote on a short-term rental ordinance regulating their operations in the city. This new rule would add Article XXIII to Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances, creating a registration-based system for STRs.
Several amendments were added to the proposed rule change including one that would require training for home owners on how to spot human trafficking.
Under the original proposed ordinance, operating a short-term rental without a valid registration certificate from the City of Houston would be illegal.
A short-term rental is a home or part of a house rented out for less than 30 days. This does not include hotels, bed and breakfasts, or group homes.
If the original ordinance was approved, the city will enforce several regulations for short-term rentals, including:
- Noise and sound control
- Building and neighborhood protection
- Waste and litter management
- Fire safety compliance
- Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) payment
- Listing and notification requirements
- Emergency contact information
In addition, short-term rentals will not be allowed to advertise as event spaces.
The annual registration fee for short-term rentals will be $275, determined by a cost study from the City’s Finance Department. The ordinance also states that short-term rental platforms must remove listings of unregistered properties within 10 days of being notified by the city.
Registration certificates can be revoked for the following reasons under the ordinance:
- Conviction of a serious crime
- Multiple violations of the sound ordinance
- Repeated nuisance or building code violations
- Failure to pay HOT
After the ordinance is approved, there will be a 180-day implementation period to help STR owners comply with the new regulations, according to the city.
KPRC 2 will keep you up to date as this story evolves.