HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 24-1861INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1861
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
June 4, 2024
Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide City Council with an update on the short-term rental
registration ordinance.
Definition and Zoning
A short-term home rental is the rental for compensation of dwellings or accessory dwelling units for the
purpose of overnight lodging for a period of not less than one night and not more than 30 consecutive days
other than ongoing month -to -month tenancy granted to the same renter for the same unit as their primary
residence. This is not applicable to hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts homes or bed and breakfast inns.
Short-term rentals are allowed in all mixed -use and most form -based, commercial, and industrial zoning
districts. Short-term rentals are not allowed in residential districts.
Registration Ordinance
In February 2023, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 26005, to establish a registration program for short-
term rentals to properly identify the location of short-term rentals, to ensure they are paying all required taxes
to the City, including hotel occupancy taxes, and to provide contact information for owners and agents to aid in
responding to complaints and emergencies. An owner who desires to use their premises as a short-term rental
must have a valid, active short-term rental registration from the City prior to using, allowing the use of, or
advertising the use of the premises as a short-term rental. The annual registration fee is $150 for the first year
and $100 for renewals. All short-term rentals must be located in a zoning district that allows the use and must
also register and pay the Hotel Occupancy Tax.
Since the adoption of the ordinance, 98 registration applications have been received. Eighty-five (85) were
approved and 13 denied, primarily for being located in a zoning district that does not allow short-term rental
use.
Short -Term Rental Regist-ration Application,
(98 Total Applications)
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1861
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
June 4, 2024
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE
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It is unlawful for any owner or person to rent, lease, advertise, or otherwise permit or allow any premises to be
operated or used as an unregistered short-term rental. The Code Compliance Department investigates citizen -
initiated complaints regarding short-term rentals. Most complaints are generated due to nuisance activity
occurring during the renter's stay, such as parties, noise and trash. When complaints are received in
residential districts, the property owners are issued educational information advising them of the ordinance and
possible enforcement actions if short-term rental activity is observed. Since most activity occurs online, such as
bookings and payments, and within the confines of a private residence, proving these violations can be
challenging.
Suspected properties are closely monitored for activity, including online bookings, vehicular traffic and
conversations with renters and neighbors. The Neighborhood Code District Senior Officers (one per District)
conduct thorough investigations. When violations are observed, citations are issued to the property owners.
The City can issue citations based on short-term rental advertisements or online bookings alone. The fines are
set by ordinance and are not to exceed $500, except in cases involving fire safety, zoning or public health and
sanitation, where fines can reach up to $2,000 per occurrence. Since the ordinance's inception, the Code
Compliance Department has investigated 222 properties for short-term rental violations, resulting in 114
citations for non-compliance.
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 24-1861
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 4, 2024
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*a SUBJECT: SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE
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Short -Term Rental Citation-c
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For questions regarding this information, please contact Interim Code Compliance Director Shannon Elder at
Shannon.Eldera-fortworthtexas.gov or (817) 392-6326.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS