Residents packed Austin City Hall on Aug. 20 to express frustration toward certain types of short-term rental properties.[/caption]District 10 Council Member Sheri Gallo initiated the process to increase enforcement after hearing complaints from residents in her district and throughout the city about negative experiences from STRs used as party houses, she said. Her resolution, Gallo said, sends a message to the city’s Code Department that it is time to do its job and put noncompliant STRs out of business.
The resolution directs city staff to use all existing enforcement tools to suspend STR licenses if the property is advertised in a way that does not comply with city code or does not include the license number. It also creates a fee penalty to be put in place for STRs operating without a license or with an expired license.
The topic will come back to the council in September with more provisions and amendments slated to be made to the original STR laws.
One condition not included in the resolution passed Aug. 20 is an occupancy limit. Existing city law prohibits more than six unrelated persons occupying a residence, which STRs must comply with.
Some neighbors who were present for the Aug. 20 meeting advocated for the STR occupancy limit to be no more than six adults, regardless of family relations.
