The West Lake Hills City Council approved a draft for a short term rental ordinance Wednesday, passing the document to the zoning and planning commission for review.
“What we are considering tonight is the product of a lot of meetings,” said Council Member Rhonda McCollough, who was also on the STR subcommittee. “It’s the third draft [of the STR ordinance] to come before the council and to be up for a public hearing. The committee worked with assistant city attorney Laura Miller to find a legal balance between concerns raised by the residents [in the past] and the city’s master plan itself.”
McCollough said the ordinance would:
- create a special use permit for short term rentals, issued by the city administrator;
- make those who are not residents of West Lake Hills ineligible to apply for an STR use permit with the city;
- limit each verified homestead owner to one STR permit each, ensuring no homeowner can rent out more than one West Lake Hills property;
- create a two person limit per bedroom and a two-night minimum stay for each STR;
- create penalties for those who advertise or rent out homes that are not permitted;
- require an STR owner or representative be available by phone at all times in the event of an emergency or a disruption at the rented property;
- place the same restrictions on STRs that apply to owner-occupied homes—including parking restrictions and noise complaints;
- create a written complaint process for neighbors who experience problems with an STR;
- call for the revocation of an STR permit after three substantiated complaints are filed against a property, with an owner required to wait at least 12 months before being allowed to file for a new permit;
- restrict guest houses from being used as STRs; and
- not limit the number of days an STR can be rented in a year.
ZAPCO will review the draft ordinance Oct. 19 and, once approved, the ordinance will come back to the council for possible adoption, City Manager Robert Wood said.
