The North Richland Hills City Council voted unanimously last week to apply new regulations to short-term rentals, or STRs, in the city.
The move lines up with a regional trend to restrict the use of residential homes as rental properties, like through Airbnb and VRBO.
While members of the public came out to both support and oppose the move, city officials said most of the feedback they received in the lead-up to the vote was in favor of regulating these businesses.
Mayor Jack McCarty told 四虎影院 that current property owners who operate STRs in compliance with the new regulations and get permits will be grandfathered into the policy.
鈥淲e were trying to be fair in what we were doing because we've got a transit-oriented district, and some multi-family and some commercial,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e said we could still have them in those areas because those make sense. But we鈥檙e really trying to curb it in the other areas.鈥�
He said the policy change won鈥檛 affect the incomes of residents who currently operate STRs.
鈥淥ur focus was on really what people wanted in their neighborhoods,鈥� McCarty said. 鈥淭hey want a community. They want people that are invested in the community, that live there."
What new regulations apply to short-term rentals?
, property owners who already operate short-term rentals can continue those operations 鈥渋f they obtain an annual permit and inspection and comply with rules related to occupancy limits, noise, parking, safety, and payment of hotel taxes, etc.鈥�
But new STRs won鈥檛 be allowed in single-family neighborhoods. Instead, prospective owners should look at multi-family, commercial and the city鈥檚 Transit Oriented Development zoning districts.
Officials laid out specifics for regulations on occupancy, parking and inspection, among other details, at their Oct. 13 city council meeting.
Planning Director Cori Reaume said that those who currently operate STRs will 鈥渆ither pay any back hotel occupancy tax payments or enter into an approved payment arrangement.鈥�
The new regulations come with enforcement mechanisms that include allowing the city to revoke permits for STRs with multiple violations.
Precedent for STR restrictions in North Texas
Cities across the Metroplex have reached a mixed verdict on how, and if, short-term rentals should be restricted.
New regulations have been imposed across the region in recent years, growing alongside the number of STRs operated in the area. Some North Texas cities, like Hurst, .
Cities with limited or no restrictions include Keller, Watauga, Colleyville, Bedford and Euless, although Bedford has spacing limitations and Euless has density limitations. Keller officials discussed regulations in 2022 but ultimately did not amend city code.
In Fort Worth, STRs are not allowed in residential districts, but . Arlington allows STRs , like keeping the properties within one mile of an entertainment zone. Grapevine but does allow them in multi-family complexes with at least 50 units, with some additional zoning restrictions.
In 2024, Lewisville on new STRs.
Dallas is in an ongoing legal battle determining the fate of its STR policies. Earlier this year, an appeals court ruled that a 2023 ban on STRs in single-family neighborhoods is unenforceable.
What folks are saying
More than a dozen residents spoke at last week鈥檚 North Richland Hills City Council meeting, in addition to those who submitted input without speaking. Opinions were relatively split, although Council Member Matt Blake pointed out that most of what he had heard from residents leading up to the vote was in favor of regulation.
鈥淭he reason we are making these changes is because we have been asked overwhelmingly by our residents to restrict short-term rentals in their neighborhoods,鈥� Blake said.
Residents speaking out in favor of the regulations cited a common concern about STRs creating 鈥減arty houses鈥� in residential neighborhoods.
One commenter, Emily Anne Page, expressed concern about not knowing who might be in her neighborhood with short-term renters nearby. She said the community makes the area special.
鈥淲e will be eroding that special thing by allowing strangers to be living and renting next door, that we don't even know, coming in and out,鈥� she said.
Another resident, Wesley Oksanen, said that although she鈥檚 used short-term rental properties before, she doesn鈥檛 want to live next to one.
鈥淭imes are tough, I understand that 鈥� but the reality is, no one really appreciates having their streets lined with cars, and the regulation is difficult, and no one wants to be the neighbor of a person renting out their home,鈥� Oksanen said.
But those opposed to restrictions cited a need for additional income, property rights and pride in their rental properties as reasons for keeping city policy status quo.
Karlee Wilcox said her rental property helped supplement her income while she was undergoing cancer treatments.
鈥淭hrough Airbnb, I turned my extra space into something that gave us breathing room, financially and emotionally,鈥� Wilcox said. 鈥淚t allowed me to work around treatments, set my own hours, create something from nothing.鈥�
Michael Molthan is a North Richland Hills resident who said that while he does not operate a short-term rental, he felt strongly enough about the issue to express his concerns.
鈥淎s Texans, we value limited government and we value the freedom to use our property responsibly without unnecessary restrictions,鈥� Molthan said. 鈥淭hat's just not about STRs. It's about protecting the principle of property rights for everyone in this city.鈥�
Gopi Kantamneni runs an STR with his daughter, Aishwarya. Gopi Kantamneni said he wanted to see the 鈥渁 balanced ordinance that targets bad actors without stigmatizing responsible hosts and guests,鈥� while his daughter spoke against potential back taxes.
鈥淲e put in a lot of effort building a home,鈥� Aishwarya Kantamneni said. 鈥淲e don't want the bad guests. We don't want the parties because we put every blood, sweat and tear into the house to make it what it is. That's not what a host wants, or, that's not what a responsible host wants.鈥�
Despite tension between the viewpoints presented, the conversation remained civil.
When do the regulations go into effect?
The short-term rental regulations don鈥檛 go into effect immediately, so property owners have some time to prepare for the changes. The policy contains a 30-day delay from approval, meaning regulations go into effect Nov. 13. Compliance requirements start in January.
According to a city press release, STR property owners will be notified by city staff when the registration portal is active.
McCarty said the city is not 鈥渢aking something away鈥� from property owners already operating STRs, just that they need to follow new compliance requirements.
鈥淲e wanted to make sure everybody was still taken care of,鈥� he said.
The regulations will be in place as the Metroplex anticipates a large influx of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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