Plano should turn to Frisco to work out a short-term rental policy

Plano is at a crossroads when it comes to short-term rentals. Since police busted a sex ring this fall at a short-term rental home, some Plano residents have called for an outright ban on short-term rental companies such as Airbnb.

Plano should take a more measured approach. Short-term rentals have become a permanent fixture in the hospitality world and allow many owners to supplement their incomes while luring tourist money into the coffers of the city. Plano must be sensitive to these economic realities and opt for regulation rather than prohibition.

There are problematic properties, but we question the attempt to paint all short-term rentals with a wide brush. For example, City of Plano staff pointed out earlier this year that the city recorded 1,428 noise complaints between January and May of this year, only 23 of which related to homes known to be short-term rental properties. term.

A group of Plano residents want the city to enact an immediate moratorium on all short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods within 60 days. This group advocates using an existing ordinance to prevent short-term rentals in single-family areas. But the lawyers informed the city that the municipalities attempts to ban short-term rentals have failed in Texas courts, KERA reported.

A City of Plano spokesperson told us that the city is developing an ordinance that will outline a registration and inspection program. The city council is expected to consider the ordinance in mid-November.

Frisco showed us how to approach short-term rental regulations wisely. Last year, its city council passed an ordinance requiring landlords to register and pay hotel taxes. The ordinance also requires each property to have a 24-hour contact person and prohibits rentals to anyone under the age of 21. The ordinance did not limit short-term rentals based on zoning districts, but it did create a process to revoke the licenses of bad operators. .

Frisco has also created a online platform and a 24-hour hotline which allows residents to report property infractions.

City officials need to listen to residents’ concerns about crime, but a ban is an extreme solution. Plano should come up with a policy that balances public safety with property owners’ rights. We know it can be done, and Plano doesn’t have to look far for an example.

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