Dallas ordinance that would ban more than 90 percent of short-term rentals temporarily blocked
DALLAS - A judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing a Dallas ordinance that would ban more than 90 percent of short-term rentals in the city.
The Dallas Short Term Rental Alliance filed a lawsuit against the city for an ordinance that would change zoning rules to ban short-term rentals, like Airbnb or Vrbo, from operating in single-family neighborhoods.
The ordinance, which was approved by the Dallas City Council in June, was set to go into effect on December 13.
The temporary injunction bars enforcement of the new rules from now until June 2024, when the trial date is set.
The City of Dallas can appeal the ruling.
Dallas City Council bans short-term rentals from single-family areas
The council voted on the issue a little before midnight, after more than four hours of testimony from dozens of people on both sides of the emotional issue.
The new rules came in response to years of complaints from homeowners that some STRs have been linked to gun violence, trash and other quality of life concerns.
Short-term rental owners say the new rules are too broad, and that STRs are a right of homeownership in Texas.
The City of Dallas released a statement on the decision to FOX 4:
On June 14, 2023, the City of Dallas enacted two ordinances to regulate the use of property as a short-term rental (STR), with enforcement scheduled to begin on December 14, 2023. On October 2, 2023, a group representing STR operators filed a lawsuit challenging the ordinances and sought a temporary injunction to prevent the city from enforcing the ordinances. A hearing on the temporary injunction was held on December 1, 2023.
On December 6, 2023, the court entered a temporary injunction prohibiting enforcement of the two STR ordinances. The City is considering its options regarding appeal of the temporary injunction. In the meantime, the City will continue enforcement of its existing ordinances governing minimum property standards, disturbing noises, and private nuisances.