| 1 | 1 | | 85R4888 SCL-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Parker H.B. No. 2551 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to regulation of short-term rentals by municipalities and |
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| 8 | 8 | | counties. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended |
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| 11 | 11 | | by adding Section 250.008 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 250.008. REGULATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS. (a) In |
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| 13 | 13 | | this section: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) "Local law" means an ordinance, order, regulation, |
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| 15 | 15 | | or similar measure. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (2) "Short-term rental" means a residential property, |
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| 17 | 17 | | including a single-family dwelling or a unit in a condominium, |
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| 18 | 18 | | cooperative, or time-share, that is rented wholly or partly for a |
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| 19 | 19 | | fee for a period not longer than 30 consecutive days. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) A municipality or county may not adopt or enforce a |
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| 21 | 21 | | local law that expressly or effectively prohibits the use of a |
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| 22 | 22 | | property as a short-term rental. Except as provided by this |
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| 23 | 23 | | section, a municipality or county may not adopt or enforce a local |
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| 24 | 24 | | law that restricts the use of or otherwise regulates a short-term |
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| 25 | 25 | | rental based on the short-term rental's classification, use, or |
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| 26 | 26 | | occupancy. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (c) A municipality or county may adopt or enforce a local |
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| 28 | 28 | | law that specifically regulates property used as a short-term |
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| 29 | 29 | | rental only if the county or municipality demonstrates that the |
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| 30 | 30 | | local law's primary purpose is to protect the public's health and |
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| 31 | 31 | | safety. Local laws authorized by this subsection include |
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| 32 | 32 | | regulations: |
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| 33 | 33 | | (1) addressing: |
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| 34 | 34 | | (A) fire and building codes; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (B) health and sanitation; |
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| 36 | 36 | | (C) traffic control; and |
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| 37 | 37 | | (D) solid or hazardous waste and pollution |
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| 38 | 38 | | control; and |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2) requiring the designation of an emergency contact |
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| 40 | 40 | | for the property. |
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| 41 | 41 | | (d) A municipality or county may adopt or enforce a local |
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| 42 | 42 | | law that limits or prohibits the use of a short-term rental only if |
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| 43 | 43 | | the law limits or prohibits the use of a rental for the purpose of: |
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| 44 | 44 | | (1) housing sex offenders; |
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| 45 | 45 | | (2) operating a structured sober living home or |
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| 46 | 46 | | similar enterprise; |
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| 47 | 47 | | (3) selling illegal drugs; |
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| 48 | 48 | | (4) selling alcohol or another activity that requires |
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| 49 | 49 | | a permit or license under the Alcoholic Beverage Code; or |
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| 50 | 50 | | (5) operating as a sexually oriented business. |
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| 51 | 51 | | (e) A municipality or county shall apply a local law |
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| 52 | 52 | | regulating land use to a short-term rental in the same manner as |
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| 53 | 53 | | another similar property. A local law described by this subsection |
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| 54 | 54 | | includes regulations on: |
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| 55 | 55 | | (1) residential use and other zoning matters; |
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| 56 | 56 | | (2) noise; |
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| 57 | 57 | | (3) property maintenance; and |
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| 58 | 58 | | (4) nuisance. |
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| 59 | 59 | | (f) This section may not be construed to affect regulations |
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| 60 | 60 | | of a private entity, including a property owners' association as |
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| 61 | 61 | | defined by Section 204.004, Property Code. |
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| 62 | 62 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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