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AVAILABILITY AND BOOKED NIGHTS Over the past three years, available Airbnb units and booked nights per month in the Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas have seen more growth than those in the Lakewood neighborhood.
re nement. The so-called “Keep It Simple” option would de ne short-term rental properties as a lodging use in city code. By doing this, short-term rentals would only be allowed in the same zoning districts where the other lodging uses, such as hotels, are able to operate. “This is the option that does not allow any kind of short-term rental within residential [areas],” said Julia Ryan, director of planning and urban design, during the June 15 meeting. Luis Briones, public policy lead for Airbnb, said his company hopes to see a set of rules that both helps support the short-term rental industry and does not take away property owners’ ability to rent out their dwellings. Briones said Airbnb hosts have a right to rent out their property. He called those who have focused on creating zoning restrictions over roughly the past three years a “vocal minority.” Briones said a “more prag- matic approach” would be establish- ing a registration process. “Many of those hosts indicate to us [that] they really depend on the income they make from o ering up their space to pay bills to make it to the end of the month,” Briones said. “We want to make sure that everyone who has a chance—who has an ability to host for whatever reason they may be hosting—has an opportunity to continue doing that.” Dallas resident Olive Talley is among homeowners from across the city who are part of the Dallas Neigh- borhood Coalition. Talley said the community-driven group of home- owners is advocating for the city to de ne short-term rentals as a lodging use. Talley said it is time for the city to o cially recognize short-term rentals as a lodging use and allow them only where lodging is allowed in Dallas. “I live just a few doors down from a short-term rental, which has caused unmitigated heck for our neighbor- hood for the last three years,” Talley said. “It has changed hands twice and just continues to be a nightmare for the adjacent neighbors and with a rip- ple impact to the rest of the neighbors on the street.” Residential unrest Talley said members of the Dallas Neighborhood Coalition have made complaints of noise, parking issues,
Dallas City Council is considering three methods that could limit where short-term rentals are allowed to operate. UNDER CONSIDERATION
Available Airbnb units (May 2019-May 2022) 150
Zoning amendments:
+53% Total change year-over year
OPTION 1 This option, known as the “Keep It Simple” option, would de ne short-term rental properties as a lodging use in city code. Short-term rentals would not be allowed in residential areas and would only be allowed in zoning districts where other lodging uses are permitted. Short-term rental owners may need a certi cate of occupancy. OPTION 2 This option would create two types of short-term rentals based on whether the rental is occupied by the property owner. The two types would be treated di erently by the zoning code, and each would be allowable in di erent zoning districts. OPTION 3 This option would not di erentiate between owner-occupied and non- owner-occupied status. It would include some additional zoning regulations.
Lake Highlands
120
90
60
Lakewood
Total change year-over year
-16%
30
0
2019
2020
2021
2022
Airbnb booked nights (May 2019-May 2022)
2,000
+169% Total change year-over year
Lake Highlands
1,500
SOURCE: CITY OF DALLAS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
1,000
and code compliance departments have shared recommendations with Dallas City Council for rules on short-term rentals over the past two months. These rules would a ect rooms, whole houses, condomini- ums and apartments rented daily or weekly for less than 30 days, often through online providers, such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Dallas sta is working with the Zon- ing Ordinance Advisory Committee and City Plan Commission to re ne three options being considered for council approval. The three options de ne where short-term rentals are allowed to operate. A formal registration process is being drafted in tandem with poten- tial zoning limitations, according to city sta . Short-term rental owners
Total change year-over year
500
Lakewood
-51%
0
2019
2020
2021
2022
SOURCE: AIRDNA COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
would be required to register and pay a fee on an annual basis. In addition, the city would inspect all registered properties and notify neighbors of nearby short-term rentals. Council members are scheduled to vote on a recommended plan in September. “Hopefully we will get to the point where we can get the citizens what they want, which is peace and quiet,”
District 4 Council Member Carolyn King Arnold said in a June 15 meeting. “And [they will be] able to live in a neighborhood where the city identi- ed a speci c living district.” Rentals in neighborhoods On June 15, council members gen- erally agreed on one option out of the three on the table to recommend to their supporting committees for
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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