On Tuesday, City Council upheld the current Zoning Ordinance regulation restricting short-term rentals (STRs) in residential zoning districts and requiring a zoning change for STR use.

What does this mean?

People who operate short-term rentals — like Airbnbs or Vrbos — in residential zones will need to obtain a registration ordinance, which will require an annual fee, payment of hotel occupancy taxes, property owner consent, and 24/7 local contact.

Why now?

The city contracted Deckard Technologies Inc. to identify STRs operating within city limits to protect residential neighborhoods from certain commercial encroachment, in addition to other community benefits. An August 2022 report revealed 68 legal STRs and 565 potentially illegal STR properties.

What's next?

A draft of the registration ordinance will be presented to City Council in late January 2023. The Code Compliance department will enforce zoning violations — regardless of nuisance violations — on a complaint basis and will communicate with owners.