The College Station city council will continue to pursue regulations on short term rental housing.
At the last council meeting, discussion followed a staff presentation about what is being done in Galveston, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Waco, and Lubbock.
Councilwoman Linda Harvell wanted something done to protect homeowners from continual short term rentals what she calls party houses.
Deputy city attorney Mary Ann Powell summarized what Texas courts allow and don’t allow in city regulations of short term rentals in residential neighborhoods.
During a review of past and current court decisions allowing short term rentals in residential neighborhoods, councilman Dennis Maloney reacted to a judge’s ruling that in Granbury, near Fort Worth, where short term rentals are not commercial businesses.
Maloney called for extreme enforcement of the city’s current life safety ordinances where short term rentals are located.
During a stakeholders meeting last November, city staff reported there was support from owners of short term rental housing to require an annual certification and meet life safety requirements. There was opposition to restricting parties and other social events.