Zoning Board To Revisit Short-Term Rentals With Workshop Meeting in August

After hearing two hours of public testimony for and against restrictions on Dallas’s 6,000 short-term rentals, the city’s Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee agreed to discuss the matter again — and hear no public input nor take action on it — during a workshop session in August.

Residents and property owners on both sides of the issue outlined their arguments before ZOAC Thursday morning, repeating the key points from previous discussions. The preferred consensus of the Dallas City Council is the “Keep It Simple” solution, proposed by District 14 Councilman Paul Ridley, which defines STRs as a lodging use and limits them to areas only where lodging uses are allowed. This would eliminate STRs in residential and multi-family areas. 

Pros And Cons

In a nutshell, several Dallas residents are responsible owners of rental properties. They live in town, some in close proximity to their rentals, and regulate activity and behavior at the properties. They pay their hotel occupancy taxes on time, and ensure that guests are quiet and respectful. Many rely on the income generated by the rentals to provide for their families. They’ve argued that they shouldn’t be punished for the actions of a few off-site, irresponsible landlords who allow all-night parties and turn a blind eye to criminal activity.

At Thursday’s ZOAC meeting, advocates for residential STRs pointed to a recent initiative from Airbnb to eliminate party houses. The Airbnb platform announced last month it is banning properties listed for parties or events, and capping the number of occupants. Those who violate the regulations will be suspended or banned from using Airbnb in the future. 

Those on the other side of the issue say absentee property owners are operating businesses that allow transients and strangers into what used to be family-friendly neighborhoods near schools and churches. The issue is a matter of land use, and properties that function as hotels should not be planted among neighborhoods, opponents have said. 

Those against residential STRs say a city staff memo identifying STRs as low-impact is outdated and inaccurate. They’ve offered what they view as a compromise, saying under the “Keep It Simple” option, property owners still will be allowed to list their rentals for short-term use, just not in residential neighborhoods. 

Next Steps 

Zoning board members on Tuesday were limited to a two-hour meeting because the room they were using was scheduled for another meeting. They heard from about 50 speakers but didn’t get to everyone who registered to voice their opinions, so those comments will roll over to a July 21 meeting. At that time the panel will also consider its upcoming calendar and set a meeting date for August. 

The August meeting will be a “working meeting,” with a briefing from city staff and an opportunity for board members to ask questions and discuss the matter. No action is expected from the committee at that time, officials said.