Dallas homeowners could see stricter regulations on short-term rentals this fall. The Dallas City Council is scheduled to vote on new regulations for these rentals in September.
Many property owners with vacation or other second homes list them on vacation rental sites like VRBO and Airbnb. Local zoning ordinances in cities throughout the country prohibit short-term rentals (under 30 days). However, Dallas has not.
Planners and council members are considering various regulations
City zoning and planning employees are working out recommended rules. A public hearing is planned for July. Suggested rules have involved requiring short-term rental properties to be a specified distance apart and notification to neighbors that a property is registered as a rental. The council is also looking at making the registration process simpler.
Council members and planners have discussed having separate regulations for owner-occupied short-term rental properties and rental properties that are vacant when there are no renters there. One suggested model would not allow vacant rental properties in areas zoned for single-family homes only.
Short-term rentals are always a source of dispute
The Dallas-Fort Worth area is one of the country’s leading business hubs as well as vacation destinations. Therefore, the market for short-term business housing and vacation rentals is large. However, homeowners, particularly in upscale areas, often object to having strangers regularly moving in and out of the neighborhood.
There are concerns about safety as well as property values. However, proponents of short-term rentals say security concerns are exaggerated. One noted, “We’ve had over 4,000 stays over the past two years and in those stays, I can count on the one hand how many incidents we’ve had.”
It’s always a good idea to stay current on local zoning regulations. If you have questions or concerns about renting your residential property or are facing fines or other penalties, it’s wise to seek legal guidance.