Lake Highlands - Lakewood | July 2023

Dallas bans nearly all short-term rentals with new zoning ordinance REAL ESTATE NEWS

2023 HOME EDITION

BY CECILIA LENZEN

the meeting, he said wealthy inves- tors outbid residents on Dallas homes so they can operate short-term rentals as an additional source of income, which makes housing “less aordable for everyone.” The backstory Short-term rentals opponents and operators alike have waited years for City Council to decide how to regu- late the properties. City Council was scheduled to vote on an ordinance in April, but the vote was delayed to conduct additional research. Many have called for an outright ban on short-term rentals, repeatedly voicing concerns about the rentals bringing unwanted noise, trac and

After a yearslong battle between homeowners, short-term rental oper- ators and city ocials, Dallas City Council voted to approve new rules that eectively ban most short-term rentals in the city. The new rules include a zoning ordinance that makes it illegal to oper- ate short-term rental homes in areas zoned for single-family homes. The plan is popularly known as the “KISS,” or “keep-it-simple solution.” What happened During its June 14 meeting, City Council approved the Dallas City Plan Commission’s recommendation to zone short-term rentals out of

Many of those in favor of banning short-term rentals use the phrase “homes not hotels,” displayed on signs in their yards. (Cecilia Lenzen/Community Impact)

REGULATING RENTALS

635

Under new zoning rules, short-term rentals in the city of Dallas are banned in areas zoned for single- family housing and are only allowed in areas zoned for multifamily use, making about 95% of those operating illegal.

single-family neigh- borhoods. Short-term rentals, such as those listed on Airbnb, will still be allowed in areas that are zoned for multifamily use, but each unit must include at least one o-street parking space. In April, city sta estimated the city has about 1,800

safety hazards to the neighborhoods they live in. Short-term rental operators have asked for stricter reg- ulations rather than a ban on the proper- ties, which they said would impact a major source of income for many operators. While the plan commission recom-

“THE PENULTIMATE QUESTION ... IS WHO WE WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE FORLONG TERM RESIDENTS OR TRANSIENT TOURISTS?" PAUL RIDLEY, DISTRICT 14 DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

Single-family zoned Multifamily zoned

35E

SOURCE: CITY OF DALLAS COMMUNITY IMPACT

N MAP NOT TO SCALE

STEPS TO REGISTER

2 According to the new ordinances governing the registration of short-term rentals in Dallas, owners/hosts of the properties are required to go through a number of steps with the city. Register annually

registered short-term rentals and 1,300 that are unregistered—the ordinance will make up to 95% of them illegal. Before the vote, City Council heard from dozens of community members, many of whom wore white “Homes not Hotels” T-shirts in opposition of short-term rentals. Quote of note “The penultimate question tonight is who we want our neighborhoods to be for—long-term residents or transient tourists? I think the answer should be obvious,” District 14 Council Member Paul Ridley, who represents parts of east Dallas, said during the meeting. “It is time to take decisive action to preserve the qual- ity of life in Dallas neighborhoods and not to delay any longer what residents tonight and previously have been clamoring for.” Ridley has been an avid supporter of banning short-term rentals. During

mended handling short-term rental usage through the zoning change, Dallas Planning & Urban Design Department sta recommended June 9 that City Council address short-term rentals through the regis- tration process instead. They asserted that “major concerns related to [short-term rentals] are operational and would be best managed through a registration ordinance enforced by Code Compliance Services,” accord- ing to a June 9 memo. The conditions In addition to the zoning change, City Council also voted to require short-term rental operators to register their properties with the city annually and pay registration fees. Occupancy will be limited to three people per bedroom with a maximum occupancy of 12 people per rental unit. Other rules include noise limits from 10 p.m.-7 a.m. and a one-hour response time for

Minimum two- night rental No amplied sound between 10 p.m.-7 a.m.

Pay $248 registration fee

Allow inspections for registration and renewal

Provide emergency contact Post certicate of registration

Be a good neighbor Three people per bedroom

SOURCE: CITY OF DALLASCOMMUNITY IMPACT

emergency concerns. The June 14 vote did not include penalties for operators who don’t register their properties with the city. Earlier in June, Dallas Code Compliance Department sta said the zoning ordinance will be dicult to enforce due to limited sta and a lack of resources.

The zoning ordinance went into eect immediately, but code sta said it could take a minimum of six months before they can start enforc- ing the new regulations. Even then, their enforcement may rely mostly on responding to complaints from resi- dents rather than actively monitoring potential violations.

LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • JULY 2023