HOUSTON – The City of Houston could soon crackdown on short term rental properties booked through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo under a proposed ordinance.
A short-term rental ordinance has been an ongoing conversation in the city for at least three years.
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Under this proposed ordinance, the city would create a registration-based system for short-term rental property owners. That would cost $275 a year.
The city could also revoke a registration certificate for several reasons including multiple noise violations or conviction of a serious crime.
On Tuesday, at least a dozen people voiced concerns about the current proposed ordinance.
Gretchen Gillis, who lives in the Museum District, was one of them.
“I think the short-term draft rental ordinance is not adequate protection for my neighborhood,” Gillis told city council members.
Gillis told KPRC 2 an apartment complex across the street from where she lives has turned into a short-term rental property.
“It’s affected every element of living in a really lovely neighborhood,” said Gillis. “I don’t have a problem with short-term rentals when it’s, you know, something like a spare bedroom or a small unit somewhere, but when you have essentially a hotel with no management and no security on site, it becomes a nuisance.”
Councilwoman Abbie Kamin did address Gillis’ concerns stating there are proposed amendments to the ordinance.
“There will be some proposed language,” said Kamin, during the meeting. “We hope it will address the multi-family-based concerns.”
Jason Ginsburg, a real estate attorney and the founder of the Facebook group ‘Houstonians Against Airbnbs,’ also spoke during public comment.
“Short-term landlords enjoy savings by not having to have staff on site like you would have with a traditional hotel,” Ginsburg told KPRC 2. “But the result is, it’s the neighbors and it’s the police that end up having to moderate their guests. So, we’re hoping that the ordinance includes a funding mechanism, whereby the city’s able to increase the number of officers and its loud noises unit.”
Short-term rental property owner Martin Prenddergast told city council members he doesn’t have a problem with an ordinance but is concerned about the timeline to receive registration.
“I’ve spoken with several other hosts, and we are in agreement and have no problem with some kind of regulation and bring responsible hosts together and get rid of the bad actors,” said Prendergast. “We would have to be approved for a license first, but there’s nothing in the wording that says how long that takes. I know in LA; I think it’s eight to nine months. So, we’d look for clarification on exactly how that would work out.”
The city attorney said if the ordinance passes, the city will take applications beginning in Aug. 2025 and the registrations should be processed by Jan. 2026. She said short term rental property owners will be able to operate during the processing period.
