Council members listened to public feedback during the preliminary open meeting March 25. Plano staff outlined a program that would require property owners to provide certain information and pay a registration fee to operate a short-term rental—a property leased less than 30 days at a time through platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo—in the city.
What you need to know
If a registration program is enacted, short-term rentals could not be operated without authorization from the city, Director of Neighborhood Services Curtis Howard said. According to city documents, registration, which could cost $300, would be valid for one year and would require annual renewal.
Howard said individuals applying for a registration must provide the following:
- Proof of liability insurance coverage for at least $1 million
- A list of all platforms where a short-term rental property is listed and photos of the unit
- A designated contact person, which staff recommend is someone who can respond to an issue within an hour
- A floor plan and posting of registration within the short-term rental unit
- Contact information, including legal name, mailing address, email address and telephone number, for any owners and operators of the short-term rental
In addition to a registration program, Howard said there will be a training program to educate short-term rental operators, which could provide between a $75 and $100 discount on the annual registration cost.
The context
As council is considering a registration program, the planning and zoning commission has been considering zoning regulations that would denote where three different types of short-term rentals could be operated. The commission is expected to consider the regulations during an April 1 public hearing.
New short-term rentals were also outlawed last May after council adopted a one-year interim ban on short-term rentals to develop regulations.
During the ban, the city appointed a short-term rental task force, which came up with recommendations that have been used to guide the registration program and zoning regulations.
What they’re saying
“We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the negative impacts of uncontrolled short-term rentals any longer,” said Bill France, leader of the Plano chapter of the Texas Neighborhood Coalition. “The incidents of noise disturbances, property damage [and] criminal activity have reached unacceptable levels.”
“I’d love for there to be something in this where we incentivize short-term rentals that are operating well to get a potential discount on their renewal fees to incentivize good behavior,” Mayor Pro Tem Kayci Prince said.
What’s next?
Council is expected to consider adoption of the proposed short-term rental registration program April 22. City Manager Mark Israelson said city staff will consider suggestions made during the meeting, including a legal review of any impacts for the changes.
If the planning and zoning commission votes to recommend zoning regulations during its April 1 meeting, council will likely consider those in addition to the registration program.
