Council votes Tuesday on registration ordinance for short-term rentals

Published on February 13, 2023

City Council is scheduled to consider a registration ordinance for legal short-term rentals in Fort Worth during its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14.

The vote had been scheduled for the Jan. 31 meeting, which was canceled due to icy weather.

A short-term rental, sometimes referred to as a “vacation rental,” is a residential property available for rent for guest lodging for a period ranging from one to 29 days.

The proposed ordinance would require:

• Short-term rentals where allowed by zoning to register.
• An annual registration and fee: $150 for the initial year and $100 per year for renewals.
• Registrations would be nontransferable.
• Collection of hotel occupancy tax for the property.
• Minimum stay is one night.
• A local responsible party must be available 24/7 to respond to concerns at the property. The local responsible party may be the property owner or an operator working on behalf of the owner.
• No more than one group would be allowed to inhabit the property at a time.
• Rentals would be limited to two persons per bedroom, plus two additional persons, with a maximum of 12 people staying in the property at one time.
• Only on-premise parking would be allowed.
• No events or parties would be allowed.
• The host would be required to provide instructions to comply with noise, trash, parking and curfew ordinances.
• Advertising and operation of short-term rentals without registration would be prohibited.
• Registration may be revoked based on violations.

If the registration ordinance is adopted, City staff will mail property owners and provide a timeline for registration with a deadline of June 1, 2023.

Learn more.

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