The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Agent.
A person designated in writing by the short-term rental operator in lieu of themselves as the 24-hour emergency contact for a lawfully operating short-term rental.
Operator.
Any person who operates a short-term rental.
Owner.
The person or entity that holds legal or equitable title to the real property where a short-term rental is located.
Short-Term Rental Permit.
A permit issued by the city identifies the address of the subject property as a lawful short-term rental, the short-term rental permit number, the names and contact information of the owner, operator, and agent, if applicable, and a 24-hour emergency contact phone number for all of the preceding persons.
Short-Term Rental.
A residential dwelling unit or portion thereof that is rented out for compensation on a temporary basis for a period of less than 30 consecutive days.
(Ordinance 2156 adopted 11/7/2024)
(a) 
It shall be an offense for an owner, operator, or agent to operate a short-term rental without a permit obtained from and authorized by the city.
(b) 
A permit issued under this section may not be transferred and does not convey with the property upon sale.
(c) 
A permit issued under this section expires after one year.
(Ordinance 2156 adopted 11/7/2024)
Each application for a short-term rental permit shall be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee in the amount designated in the fee schedule. Each application shall include the following information:
(1) 
A list of all owners, operators, and agents (if applicable) of the short-term rental, including names, current mailing addresses, current email addresses, and current telephone numbers. Each premises owned by a business entity shall include information for the responsible party.
(2) 
The name, address, and 24-hour telephone number of a local contact who is the owner, operator, or designated agent and who shall be responsible and authorized to respond to complaints concerning the short-term rental within one hour or less.
(3) 
An acknowledgment that any permit granted under this article does not supersede any property-specific restrictions against short-term rentals under law, agreement, lease, covenant, or deed restriction.
(4) 
Any other information required by city manager, or designee.
(Ordinance 2156 adopted 11/7/2024)
(a) 
The city manager, or designee, may determine that a permit required under this section should be denied or revoked for the reasons set forth below. The city manager, or designee, shall provide written notice of the denial or revocation of the permit to the applicant, detailing the reason for the denial or revocation of the permit, and a statement informing the applicant of its right to appeal the denial or revocation of its permit to the planning commission in the following manner/the manner set out in chapter 14 of zoning ordinances.
(b) 
Denial of permit: The application shall be denied, and no permit shall be issued, if the city finds that:
(1) 
Any statement made in the application is incomplete, inaccurate, misleading, or false; or
(2) 
The applicant has not complied with this article or has had a history of noncompliance with the provisions of this article.
(c) 
Revocation of permit: The city may revoke a permit due to the applicant's failure to comply with permit requirements, this article, or any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation.
(Ordinance 2156 adopted 11/7/2024)
(a) 
An owner, operator, or agent operating a short-term rental for use shall assess and collect the hotel occupancy tax in accordance with chapter 351 of the Texas Tax Code.
(b) 
An owner, operator, or agent operating a short-term rental for use shall timely remit to the city accounting department, or designee, all city hotel occupancy taxes collected pursuant to state law.
(Ordinance 2156 adopted 11/7/2024)
Any person found in violation of any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provision found in section 1.109 of the city code.
(Ordinance 2156 adopted 11/7/2024)