Pearland City Council to consider rules for short-term rentals

Members of Pearland City Council will consider an ordinance in early 2022 to enforce regulations on short-term rental owners within the city. On Dec. 13, council received recommendations from an ad hoc committee tasked with evaluating regulatory options on short-term rentals.

“Bottom line, [rentals] should be inspected by the city, and it should have the same restrictions as anything that goes on like in a hotel,” Council Member Woody Owens said.

The committee recommended an annual permit that would be renewed and could only be obtained by the property owner. Properties would also have to be inspected by the Pearland Fire Marshal’s office.

There would also be rules short-term rentals would need to follow, including occupancy and parking limitations, no rentals to anyone under 21 years old, and a ban on using the property for a party or entertainment venue.

Council Member Alex Kamkar said he wants the ordinance to have a narrow focus that can be strictly applied. He also voiced safety concerns over some of the committee recommendations, including one that required short-term rentals to submit a sketch of the residence’s floor plans.

Kamkar said making floor plans public record could lead to security issues. Council Member Luke Orlando said he wants the city to have the ability to punish problem-causing short-term rental owners while not adding barriers to those who are operating responsibly.

Pearland City Attorney Darrin Coker and his staff will now be tasked with drafting an ordinance to present to City Council in late January or February, Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole said.