Council to vote on stricter licensing, platform rules for short-term rentals - Austin Monitor

"City Council on Thursday will consider the next steps in short-term rental regulations, which were initiated by a February vote. The proposed ordinance would impose new licensing and eligibility standards, add enforcement mechanisms and expand regulatory obligations for platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. If approved, the new rules will take effect in two stages, with most provisions implemented Oct. 1."

"New requirements for short-term rentals would take effect May 1, 2026. Under the proposed ordinance, STR operators would face new density restrictions and ownership requirements, particularly for properties with three or fewer dwelling units. Individual owners, rather than corporations or partnerships, would be eligible to operate STRs at smaller sites, and no two rentals owned by the same person could be located within 1,000 feet of each other."

"Multifamily sites with four or more units would be subject to a separate rule allowing owners to operate STRs in up to 25 percent of the units or at least one unit, whichever is greater. Properties that currently hold valid licenses would be allowed to continue operating as long as ownership remains the same and the property does not become a nuisance."

"All licensed operators would be required to submit a self-certified safety checklist, designate a local contact capable of responding to emergencies within two hours and renew their license every two years rather than three. Licenses would remain non-transferable and would expire upon a change in property ownership. On the matter of nuisance control, city staff would gain expanded authority to revoke or deny licenses based on repeated complaints, disturbances or code violations."

City Council will consider an ordinance imposing new licensing, eligibility, and enforcement standards for short-term rentals, with most rules effective Oct. 1 and STR-specific requirements on May 1, 2026. Properties with three or fewer units would be limited to individual owners and could not have two rentals by the same owner within 1,000 feet. Multifamily buildings with four or more units could offer STRs in up to 25% of units or at least one unit. Existing valid licenses may continue if ownership is unchanged and no nuisance occurs. Operators must submit a self-certified safety checklist, designate a local contact reachable within two hours, renew every two years, and maintain non-transferable licenses that expire on ownership change. City staff could revoke or deny licenses after repeated complaints and bar new licenses at the property for up to one year.

Read at Austin Monitor