The Fight to Keep Austin Short Term Rentals Reasonable Continues
On October 18, 2012 just weeks after the Short-term Rental (STR) Ordinance went into effect, the Austin City Council amended the ordinance to significantly reduce the registration fees and approved a resolution directing the city manager to explore ways to make the registration process simpler and easier to enforce rules deviated from the intent of the ordinance, and ABoR immediately spoke out against them, advocating a reduction in fees and a simplified application process. The notification fee, which is used to notify homeowners that an STR is operating within 100 feet of their property, was reduced to $50 from $241.
On October 1, the City of Austin posted emergency short-term rental (STR) rules, creating a cumbersome and expensive registration process that confused and frustrated many homeowners who were required to make appointments with city staff in order to register or have their questions answered.
ABoR supported the STR Ordinance passed on August 2 because it called for reasonable regulation of STRs that would encourage compliance; however, the emergency ABoR will continue to advocate for reasonable regulation during the regular rule-making process, which is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2013.
To apply for an STR license, call 3-1-1 to make an appointment with City of Austin Code Compliance Department staff.
Rules for all STR types :
- Operating license and STR information packet (provided by the City) placed in a visible common area inside of the property.
- Payment of HOT to the state. For information on HOT, call the City of Austin, Financial Services: Controller’s Office at 512-974-2590, then press 1, or email: hotels@austintexas.gov.
- 512-974-2590, then press 1, or email: hotels@austintexas.gov.
- Licenses valid for 12 months.
Questions Regarding Short Term Rental program in Austin Texas? Visit www.austintexas.gov/str
Article brought to you by the Austin Board of REALTORS
Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Short-Term Rental License Flyer and Checklist
- Short-Term Rental 101
- Short-Term Rental License APPLICATION (NOTE: Ownership information on your application must match the deed as recorded with the Travis County Clerk’s office or Williamson County Clerk’s office.
- Short-Term Rental INSPECTION CHECKLIST (This may be completed by a third-party certified inspector in lieu of a Certificate of Occupany)
Are you ready?
- Need a Certificate of Occupancy? Here’s how to get to the City of Austin Planning & Development Review Department at One Texas Center . Download map and directions or pull up Google maps.
- Need to hire a third-party certified inspector?
- Need to pay hotel occupancy tax?
- All of your STR license application materials complete? Walk-ins welcome if all application requirements are complete or you may call 3-1-1 to schedule an appointment. Here’s how to get to City of Austin Code Compliance Departmant at the Rutherford Lane Campus, Building 1. Download map and directions or pull up Google maps.
Licenses in Austin
- Maximum # of Type II STRs Allowed per Census Tract – This map displays the maximum allowable number of on Type II STRs in each Census tract; the map does NOT indicate how many licenses have been issued, as that number is changing daily (For your convenience, areas in red indicate where a maximum number have been issued). The document below outlines remaining Type II STR license slots available in each Census tract.
- % of Type 2 STRs issued by Census Tract
- Short-Term Rental regulations – This packet must be posted in each short-term rental property.
