City of Dallas Appeals Judge’s Order Allowing Short-Term Rentals to Continue Operation Despite Ban

The City of Dallas filed an appeal Dec. 26 asking a judge to reverse a temporary injunction allowing short-term rentals to operate while the matter is in litigation. 

We knew it would come to this. When the Dallas City Council voted 12 to 3 in June to prohibit short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods there was already talk of a lawsuit.

The Dallas Short-Term Rental Alliance made good on its promise in October when the alliance along with four longtime STR operators sued the city. District Judge Monica Purdy granted a temporary injunction on Dec. 6 that will allow Dallas STR operators to continue renting their properties while the matter is tied up in litigation. 

A non-jury trial is set for June 3.

The City’s appeal was anticipated by the Dallas STRA, said board member Lisa Sievers. 

“We look forward to showing the court of appeals the compelling record that supports the injunction against these overreaching ordinances,” Seivers told CandysDirt.com on Wednesday. “Dallas Short-Term Rental Alliance will continue to fight for our right to continue to own/operate short-term rentals. And as we have stated many times, we stand ready to come to the table with the City to discuss fair and sensible regulations that rein in the few bad apples and allow the rest of us to continue to operate.”

The City of Dallas Communications Office declined to comment, citing pending litigation. 

Olive Talley, an outspoken supporter of the zoning change that outlawed STRs in residential neighborhoods, told CandysDirt.com last summer when the council approved the measure that “anyone who opened up a short-term rental in Dallas in the last four years did so knowing they were taking a calculated risk.” 

Enforcement of illegal STRs was scheduled to begin in mid-December but has not occurred due to Judge Purdy’s temporary injunction. 

A note on the City of Dallas short-term rental webpage says, “On December 6, 2023, a temporary injunction was filed prohibiting the enforcement of the two short-term rental ordinances. In the meantime, the City will continue enforcement of its existing ordinances governing minimum property standards, disturbing noises, and private nuisances.”