Jersey Village City Council restricts short-term rentals to city district

Jersey Village City Council unanimously approved a motion to restrict short-term rentals to the city’s District M at a public hearing May 17.

The Jersey Village Planning and Zoning Commission gave its final report regarding the regulations governing short-term rental locations at the hearing.

The recommendations were made after gathering public feedback on the temporary lodging offered by Airbnb and Vrbo, and the council deemed those to be for business purposes rather than residential in nature.

Multiple citizens who attended along with council members expressed the community’s frustration with the number of calls to the police occurring at such property locations due to noise and public safety concerns.

The commission recommended City Council only allow permits for short-term rentals in the city district, or District M, and subsequently suspend the 5,000-foot distance requirement from other residential properties.

“It went into effect as of May 17, allowing short-term rentals only in District M,” City Secretary Lorri Coody said in an email confirming the passage and implementation.

The measure passed by unanimous vote and will affect all permit requests for short-term rental housing going forward.