DEPARTMENT: Development Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Michael Shannon, PE, CBO
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing and possible action of a City Council Request to review Short Term Rental best practices and proposed regulation.
SUMMARY:
A Council Consideration Request (CCR) was sponsored by Councilman Mike Gallagher on January 26, 2017, to review current ordinances and city code procedures for short term rentals. With direction from the Governance Committee, the Development Services Department (DSD) facilitated an extensive public meeting and stakeholder input process to develop a proposed ordinance that creates the registration, inspections, and special exception process of short term rentals (STRs) in the City. The ordinance was discussed at a number of task force meetings, general meetings, individual meetings, and neighborhood meetings. The proposed changes and new ordinance language requires City Council consideration and approval.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The CCR requested staff review five (5) elements: 1) Research if short term rentals impact property values and neighborhood safety statistics. 2) Review how cities have updated municipal codes or ordinances to allow this industry to operate. 3) Review options for registering STRs and permitting options. 4) Research if short term rentals should be required to remit hotel occupancy taxes, also referred to as "HOT". 5) Determine policies and procedures to enhance public safety in the short term rental industry.
The concept of renting rooms or homes on a short term basis is not new. However, new online services that facilitate short term rentals have led to a rapid proliferation of home sharing as an alternative to more traditional visitor lodging arrangements across the country and in San Antonio. This trend has initiated debates about whether or not new regulatory or enforcement mechanisms are necessary to mitigate potential effects on neighborhoods within San Antonio.
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