Lake Travis - Westlake Edition | July 2024

Real estate

BY KAMERYN GRIESSER

The Lake Travis region has long been known as a vacation destination, but with the creation of homestay apps, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, short-term rentals, or STRs, have come under increasing scrutiny by local governments. Texas does not issue state-level permits for STRs. Instead, they are regulated at the city or county level, and policies vary widely. Within the past decade, individual cities within the Lake Travis-Westlake area have created their own rules surrounding STRs, which can be found in each city’s code of ordinances. Residents within unincorporated areas of Travis County are still required to le state hotel occupancy tax reports, according to Texas law. How local cities regulate STRs

West Lake Hills STR denition: renting or leasing a dwelling owned by a city resident to a guest for 30 consecutive days or less Policy: The city must notify property owners within 300 feet of a permitted property. Guesthouses, trailers and RVs can’t be used as STRs, and STRs can’t cause trac, development or noise issues. Violations: A property that receives three complaints in a one-year period will have its permit revoked. • Latest update: Rules updated in 2021 send STR approvals through the city administrator. Violations: A violation of this article is a misdemeanor punishable by a criminal penalty of up to $2,000 per day. Residents can report suspected code violations to the city administrator. • Latest update: The city irst approved its STR policy in 2010 and adopted updates to the violations portion of the ordinance in August 2019. Rollingwood STR denition: the rental of any (residential) property for a period of less than 30 days Policy: The city’s code of ordinances states STRs are prohibited and considered unlawful.

The breakdown

Bee Cave has no rules or regulations surround- ing STRs. Here are the rules for other nearby cities.

Lakeway STR denition: the rental, tenancy or similar nonowner occupancy of residential property, by any form of compensation, for one to 27 consecutive days Policy: The city code of ordinances provides 25 STR permits to single-family residential properties over 1,000 feet from each other and an unlimited number of condo permits. The code stipulates a two-night minimum stay for STRs and orders permitted properties to comply with city noise, trash and parking regulations. Violations: Code violations can be reported to nonemergency police at night and code compliance during the day. • Latest update: While previous rules sent STR applications through City Council as well as the zoning and planning commission, a February update now sends permits through city administration for approval, Lakeway oficials said.

SOURCE: CITY OF LAKEWAY, CITY OF ROLLINGWOOD, CITY OF WEST LAKE HILLSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Size of the industry The STR industry is projected to grow in 2024, according to AirDNA, an STR data and analytics company.

What else?

“We have to walk that tightrope of preserving Lakeway’s culture, which was founded

Austin was among the rst cities in the state to introduce regulations for STRs in 2012, but a federal court case in August rendered the city’s ordinance unconstitutional. Additionally, in recent years, state lawmakers have looked to further restrict a city’s ability to prohibit STRs, but no such laws have passed. City sta for Lakeway and West Lake Hills said they have not observed a large issue of unpermitted STRs.

$64B in STR revenues

nationwide in 2023

on vacationing, and protecting our residents.”

2.4M vacation rental listings nationwide in 2023

JOSEPH MOLIS, LAKEWAY CITY MANAGER

10.7% anticipated increased demand nationwide for STRs in 2024

SOURCE: AIRDNACOMMUNITY IMPACT

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