Short-term rentals are typically found online through sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Often promoted as vacation rentals, these homes may be booked for overnight stays of 1-29 days.
Fort Worth already prohibits short-term rentals in residential districts, which includes those zoned single-family, two-family and multifamily, according to the city website. But officials acknowledge that such rentals do exist in those areas.
“The new webpage communicates possible options and goals to address the matter,” according to a July 15 news release announcing the new webpage. “These include a registration requirement, operating standards and zoning options.”
In June, the city hired Deckard Technologies to help identify all hotel and short-term rental properties operating in the city.
A separate city request for proposals seeks a company to provide a platform for registration of those hotels and short-term rentals. The company would also be charged with developing an education campaign about short-term rental ordinances and compliance, notifying owners of noncompliance and tracking those communications, documents state.
One of the city’s goals is to collect the required hotel occupancy tax from short-term rentals. Fort Worth levies a 9% tax on hotels, which is defined to include “tourist homes, houses, lodging houses and rooming houses used for sleeping accommodations,” according to the city.
In fiscal year 2021, there were 20 identified short-term rentals that generated about $28,000 in hotel occupancy taxes for Fort Worth, according to a March report to the mayor and City Council.
But a recent search on Airbnb for short-term rentals available in Fort Worth in August brought up more than 1,000 results.
The city’s new web page dedicated to short-term rentals includes background information, maps, details about the city’s current ordinances and options being considered.
The site also includes a tool that allows residents to provide feedback on the question, “What are your thoughts or concerns as the Fort Worth City Council looks to address short-term rentals?”
The city also plans two meetings to collect more information.
The first meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. July 26 at City Hall that will include a city staff presentation followed by public comment. People are invited to attend in person at 200 Texas St. or view live online on the city’s website.
There will be a separate virtual and televised public meeting at 6 p.m. July 28. This event will include a panel discussion on how the city will address short-term rentals. People will be able to submit questions before and during the program.
For more information, visit the Fort Worth short-term rental page here.
