AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council is expected to vote Thursday on several major changes to how the city regulates short-term rentals (STR) like Vrbo or Airbnb.
Some of the proposed changes would require owners or operators to include their city permit number on the rental listing, which would help provide proof the owner has a license to operate.
For owners with more than one property, the properties would need to be at least 1,000 feet away from each other.
Earlier this year, when the City of Austin initially proposed an overhaul to short-term rental regulations, one of the more notable changes was for the collection of a Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT).
The HOT applies to people who own, operate, manage or control any hotel or collect payment for occupancy in any hotel. The tax is collected from their guests for the City of Austin, according to the city.
“If the hotel is a short-term rental registering with the City of Austin for the first time, a short-term rental license must first be obtained, and it must be renewed annually in order to operate,” the city said.
However, the plan for the vote hasn’t come without drawbacks.
Mayor Kirk Watson expressed concerns over how quickly the process was moving, especially since the Texas legislature was considering STR-related bills.
Watson recommended delaying the implementation to give the city more time to talk with state lawmakers.
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