Short-Term Rentals in Fort Worth
As of March 7, 2023
A number of bills have been filed by various Texas legislators this session regarding where and how short-term rentals may operate. There is concern from many if passed into law, these bills would take remove local zoning restrictions and local authority to regulate short-term rentals in our residential neighborhoods. This would make the possibility of short-term rentals being turned into permanent "party houses."
The following summaries have been provided to BVWNA by a third party. You can learn more about the debate over short-term rentals at Texas Neighborhood Coalitions. BVWNA recommends residents contact our local legislators to express concern for these proposed bills that could hamper local decision-making. Our local state legislators include Senator Kelly Hancock (Distr9) and Representative Nichole Collier (Dist95)
HB2665, Filed by Representative Gary Gates, District 28 This is a replay of the bills filed in 2017, 2019, and 2021 that would have expressly stripped cities of the power to deal with the problem short-term rentals inevitably create. The many STR ordinances that exist across Texas now would all have been eviscerated if any of those attempts at preempting local STR ordinances had passed -- and no city could have protected residential neighborhoods by excluding these mini-hotel from doing business there. Those earlier bills died in the legislature, and this wrong-headed bill must meet the same fate. HB 2367, Filed by Representative JM Lozano, District 43 SB 1466, Filed by Senator Kelly Hancock, District 9 There's no other way to describe these dreadful bills other than the “party house bills.” These bills would handcuff cities so that they could not prevent homes from being used as permanent party venues. Think weddings, banquets, bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, and swim parties. Think rowdy party-goers every weekend and a chronic nuisance. And because of the recent US Fifth Circuit decision invalidating the New Orleans short-term rental ordinance, any attempt to limit the right to operate party venues to primary residences would violate the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution -- and open the floodgates to absentee owners running these party houses. Who would want to live next door to such constant revelry?
SB 1412, Filed by Senator Bryan Hughes, District 1
HB 2789, Filed by Representative Justin Holland, District 33
These companion bills would allow the owners of single-family and two-family property to build new accessory dwelling units (e.g. garage apartments) and take from local governments the right to adopt or enforce any ordinance prohibiting the sale or rental of any accessory dwelling units without regard to when built. On lots over 10,000 square feet, two accessory units could be built, sold, or rented as separate dwelling units. The term "rental" is not qualified and would likely include short-term rentals. The Texas Neighborhoods Coalition views these as the worst of the short-term rental bills so far this session.
As of February 25, 2023
At the District 5 Leadership Meeting, Dana Burghdoff, Assistant City Manager, announced that the Fort Worth City Council adopted a new city ordinance regarding short-term rentals that leaves most of the existing rules in place. This requires all property owners renting residential property for less than 30 days to register with the city as a short-term rental. The City has vowed to ensure Code Compliance will be prepared to respond to complaints of short-term rentals disrupting neighborhoods.
The major concern of those against short-term rentals was the use of property for "party houses" and event venues that could disrupt quiet neighborhoods. Most short-term rentals are rarely noticed by neighbors and serve to help people with additional income, house people who may not be able to afford a hotel for long term stay, and many other reasons. If you do observe property that may be disrupting the neighborhood (trash, crime, noise, traffic, etc.) because of short-term rentals, you should immediately file a report with the city using the:
MyFW app OR
call 817-392-1234 OR
Email 1234@fortworthtexas.gov
As of December 7, 2022
There was a good turn-out from Neighborhood Associations both for and against Short-Term Rentals. The City Council held a work session during the day where the City Manager's office presented a new ordinance. As a result, the City Council asked the City Manager's office for changes and to re-present the proposal later in January 2023. So as of today, the City Ordinance prohibiting short-term rentals remains in place and enforceable. You can read more on the https://FortWorthReport.org. Updated information will be posted here as it is received.
As of December 2, 2022
From the East Fort Worth Neighborhood Alliance:
JOIN US ON DECEMBER 6TH AT 6:00 AT CITY HALL AND WEAR BLACK.
We are doing a black-out. You can speak, or just join us. If you do plan to speak, let us know. We want the City Council to hear and see us.
We Need Your Help Again, Friends On Tuesday, Dec.6, the City Manager’s office will present the Fort Worth City Council two zoning options for short term rentals. One option will be to continue the present ordinance that prohibits short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. Another option will allow investor-owned short-term rentals in some or all of the City’s residential neighborhoods. This would be a significant departure from the options previously discussed with the public and the options still shown on the City's short-term rental webpage which to date has not been updated. Our understanding is the new option would allow case by case, district by district decisions on short term rentals in residential areas. More details will be discussed at the work session. A recent Court decision by Fifth Circuit Court has nixed discriminating between investor-owned and owner-occupied short term rentals in residential areas. The City is not required to allow property owners to operate short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. However, where residents are allowed to operate short-term rentals, out-of-state investors must be allowed to do so as well. It's that simple. There is no middle ground. The Dec. 6 Work Session begins at 1:00 PM. Then, at 6:00 PM, there will be a Public Comment meeting of the Council where the public will be able to express their views about short-term rentals to the Council.
Please attend the 6:00 PM meeting in person to tell the Council that you do not want short-term rentals in our neighborhoods and want the Council to direct staff to enforce the current ordinance.
The agenda for the Dec. 6 Public Comment session was posted today (click on document link above "FWCC Agenda 06Dec2022.pdf" to download). You will not be allowed to speak unless you submit a request online or call the City Secretary’s office before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. We are at a critical inflection point for short term rental policy in Fort Worth. We need a good turnout, so please attend this meeting in person. The Council may vote as early as December 13 on an ordinance directing the Zoning Commission to create a new zoning option to allow short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. It is for that reason that we need a strong showing on December 6 to remind the Council that City residents are strongly opposed to any changes to the present ordinance that would allow short-term rentals in our neighborhoods. We will send out a follow-up email with talking points later this week. The work session will be televised online if you cannot attend and want to hear the discussion. Also, if you could let us know if you will be there on Dec. 6th at 6:00, we would appreciate it.
As of August 17, 2022
See the Fort Worth City Council August 16th Worksession that included "Update on Short-Term Rental Data Mining, Registration and Zoning Options" The discussion on short-term rentals begins at 02:54:30 in the video.
As of July 12, 2022
The City has proposed a new ordinance for short-term rentals in Fort Worth. The City has created a website at https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/short-term-rentals to provide background information and proposed changes to the current ordinances.
There are four zoning proposals for STRs: Option 1 is to continue the present zoning prohibiting STRs in residential neighborhoods. Options 2-4 are various ways of opening residential neighborhoods to short-term rentals. Emails can be sent to FWConnection@fortworthtexas.gov - the email address used by the City to receive public comment for this survey.
Your email address should reflect which option you support and/or comments or questions. Including your name and address will help City Council members identify constituents.
Please Note on the City's STR website, two Engagement Opportunities will be held for citizens to attend in person, view on the City's Municipal channel, or stream on YouTube.
The first Engagement Opportunity is July 26th where the City will make an an informative presentation and allow citizens to speak on the matter.
The second Engagement Opportunity is July 28th where a panel from the City will answer questions on how the city will address short-term rentals. Participants will be able to submit questions in a variety of ways before and during the program.
Mark Your Calendar for these important events July 26th and July 28th at 6:00pm in City Council Chambers to learn more about this important issue! You can attend the meeting in person. You can also sign up to speak for two minutes. If you are not able attend, you can watch the event live on your cable municipal channel, via streaming from the Fort Worth website, or stream from YouTube. See channel, website, and/or YouTube links at:
"East Fort Worth neighborhood coalition rallies against short-term rentals"
You can read the latest article from the FortWorthReport.org. <<-- Click on this link or the link at the bottom of this blog post.
There is a lot of discussion across North Texas about Short Term Rentals like Airbnb and VRBO.
The new business model of short-term rentals has become very popular in cities where there is an entertainment or sports venue. There are many students who choose short-term rentals a semester at a time instead of renting an apartment for a year. And many people in different industries like the advantages of short term rentals, such as airline flight crews. And this new type of business is proving to be beneficial for those who have a room or two to let.
It's great......until it isn't. The problem for residents and the city government is how to manage these types of business. Are there safety and security requirements that should be met? Should the city collect tax revenues from short term rentals? What if the property owner is an absentee-owner who may not be aware of the impact on the surrounding neighborhood? Who will monitor and ensure compliance of short-term rentals if there is a problem? Do residents have a recourse if there is a problem with a short-term rental in the neighborhood?
At the time of this post, short-term rentals (rental less than 30 days) are not permitted in the City of Fort Worth. Some cities, like Arlington, have allowed short-term rentals in its entertainment district. Dallas, Denton, and other cities across the state are dealing with how to address this issue.
Many of the neighborhood associations in Fort Worth are having discussions about the pros and cons of short-term rentals. Below are just a couple of articles you can find on the internet.
FortWorthReport.org, Emily Wolf, 4/4/2022
FortWorthReport.org, Emily Wolf, 3/7/2022
KERA, Alejandra Martinez, 2/21/2022
DFW CBS Local, Caroline Vandergriff, 7/23/2021
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