The City of Plano is considering implementing a registration process in response to a number of complaints the city has received regarding short-term rentals.
According to a presentation at the June 27 meeting, a number of complaints have been filed by residents regarding short-term rentals in Plano. A short-term rental includes rooms, entire houses, condominiums and apartments that rent by the day or by the week for less than 30 days, depending on the city. Suppliers such as Airbnb and Vrbo allow tourists to book accommodation online. Data provided by the city indicates that 47 service calls regarding short-term rentals had been received this year as of May 31. Of those calls, 34 were complaints related to noise, party, alcohol or drug violations.
Council members said further steps may be taken regarding the regulation of short-term rentals in the future, but the city is still collecting data and considering various options.
“I think we’re on the way to the first steps, but we need more information,” Council member Rick Smith said. “The worst part is doing something without the right information and we get challenged legally about it and then we’re in a worse place than we are now. We all want to do something about it.
If passed by council, the enrollment program could begin later this year, according to city documents. According to the staff presentation, the program would provide the city with contact information for rental property owners and educate landlords on current city rules and regulations. Officials said the program would provide data to better understand whether more regulations might be needed in the future.
Currently, the city takes a three-pronged approach to complaints associated with short-term rentals. First, managers identify problem locations based on a high number of complaints or a property with an immediate problem. Then law enforcement officials mitigate the problem by voluntarily complying or taking legal action. And finally, the city follows up by working with the landlord and the short-term rental company, according to city regulations.
Members of the Dallas City Council must vote on the rules governing short-term rentals in September. The entire Plano short term rental presentation can be found here.
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