In a move welcomed by attendees, the Plano City Council unanimously passed a measure barring new short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods.
Existing Airbnbs and VRBOs will be allowed to continue operating regardless of their location, benefiting from a grandfather clause in the city’s new permanent short-term rental ordinance. However, the decision to prevent the establishment of additional vacation homes in traditional neighborhoods was celebrated by residents who had raised concerns about the impact of such properties on their communities.
Bill France, leader of the Plano Texas Neighborhood Coalition, expressed the sentiment of many who spoke before the council, stating that rowdy behavior associated with vacation rentals was being imported into Plano. He emphasized the need to protect children and maintain the tranquility of residential areas.
The decision follows a string of high-profile crimes linked to short-term rentals in the city. In one instance, a Plano short-term rental allegedly operated as a brothel. In response, the city imposed a temporary ban on new short-term rentals in 2023 while a special task force investigated best practices for regulating such properties.
After two years of deliberation, the task force’s work culminated in Monday’s vote. The council meeting, which lasted past 10 p.m., also resulted in the adoption of an ordinance requiring short-term rental owners to register their operations with the city. This measure is expected to enhance accountability and enable officials to address issues with problematic tenants.
City staff anticipate that the new ordinances will take effect by the end of April, providing relief to residents concerned about the proliferation of short-term rentals in their neighborhoods.
