(a) 
Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to ensure the registration, permitting, and collection and payment of hotel/motel occupancy taxes, as provided in article 11.04 hotel occupancy tax of this code.
(b) 
Prior approvals.
Nothing in this article shall be deemed to require any change to the registrations and/or permits previously approved prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived.
(Ordinance 21-0101 adopted 1/12/21; Ordinance 22-0604 adopted 6/7/2022)
A hotel is a building or facility, as defined in section 11.04.001, in which the public may obtain sleeping accommodations in exchange for compensation for a period of less than 30 consecutive days. The term includes a hotel, motel, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn, rooming house, bed and breakfast, short-term rental unit, and any accommodation hereinafter described under state law, as amended.
(Ordinance 21-0101 adopted 1/12/21; Ordinance 22-0604 adopted 6/7/2022)
A hotel registered and permitted in accordance with this article shall be required to notify, in writing, persons renting sleeping accommodations of a county-wide burn ban in effect at the time of rental. The term "in writing" shall mean a separate written notice prescribed by the city, included with the approved registration permit, and posted inside and adjacent to the hotel's front entry door.
(Ordinance 22-0604 adopted 6/7/2022)
(a) 
It shall be illegal to operate a hotel within the city limits or Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) without a hotel registration permit. No person shall rent or lease, advertise, or offer to rent a hotel within the city without first obtaining a permit from the city. The city-issued permit number shall be included for all rental advertising in print or online.
(b) 
A hotel owner or tenant, with prior written authorization of the property owner, shall apply for and complete a hotel registration application provided by the city or third-party contractor. Information on the form shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) 
The name, address, email and telephone number of the hotel owner;
(2) 
The name, address, email and twenty-four-hour telephone number of the hotel local contact person(s). The local contact person is the person designated by the hotel owner who shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week and shall respond in person within one hour to complaints from a city official regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants of the hotel unit and shall take remedial action to resolve any such complaints;
(3) 
The name and address of the hotel;
(4) 
The number of bedrooms and the applicable overnight and daytime occupancy limit of the hotel;
(5) 
The property ID number, as listed on the county appraisal district website; and
(6) 
Such other information as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) or designee deems reasonably necessary to administer this article.
(c) 
If any information on the original registration application changes, the hotel owner must modify that information and provide it to the city or third-party contractor within 30 calendar days of any change.
(d) 
The hotel registration application shall be submitted to the city or third-party subcontractor with payment of a $100.00 one-time application fee. The application fee may be amended from time-to-time through the city council's adoption of the most recent municipal fee schedule.
(e) 
A hotel owner applicant may designate an agent or representative to submit a completed registration application on the hotel owner's behalf. Designation of an agent or representative shall not relieve the hotel owner from compliance with this article.
(Ordinance 21-0101 adopted 1/12/21; Ordinance 22-0604 adopted 6/7/2022)
(a) 
Upon finding that the registration application is complete and complies with the requirements of this article, the city shall issue a hotel registration permit within ten (10) business days of submission of an application and fee.
(b) 
Each permit shall be issued a registration number.
(c) 
Registration is one-time, nontransferable, and is valid from the date of issuance of a permit. Registration shall not convey with the property upon sale.
(d) 
A hotel registration permit may be revoked for any violation of this article, including failure to pay outstanding hotel occupancy taxes.
(e) 
A hotel owner may appeal the denial or revocation of a hotel registration permit to the city council. The decision by the council is final.
(Ordinance 21-0101 adopted 1/12/21; Ordinance 22-0604 adopted 6/7/2022)
A hotel owner or tenant, with prior written authorization of the property owner, of a registered hotel shall submit a tax collection report showing the consideration paid for all room occupancies in the preceding quarter and the amount of tax collected on the city's behalf on such occupancies, in accordance with section 11.04.004 reports. A report is required even if no unit was rented during the reporting period.
(Ordinance 21-0101 adopted 1/12/21; Ordinance 22-0604 adopted 6/7/2022)
(a) 
Violation declared.
A person who violates this article commits a misdemeanor offense and is subject to prosecution for criminal violations as well as suit for injunctive relief. Each day of the violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(b) 
Criminal and civil penalties.
(1) 
Criminal fines.
A person in violation of this article shall, on conviction, shall be subject to a fine of $500.00, and up to $2,000.00 if the violation also involves fire safety, zoning or public health and sanitation including dumping of refuse.
(2) 
Civil penalties.
Nothing in this article shall be construed as a waiver of the city's right to bring a civil action to enforce the provisions of this article and to seek remedies as allowed by law, including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) 
Injunctive relief to prevent specific conduct in violation or to require specific conduct that is necessary for compliance; and
(B) 
A civil penalty up to $500.00 a day when it is shown that the defendant was actually notified of the provisions of the article and after receiving notice committed acts in violation or failed to take action necessary for compliance; and
(C) 
Other available relief.
(Ordinance 21-0101 adopted 1/12/21; Ordinance 22-0604 adopted 6/7/2022)