In a bid to shape the future landscape of short-term rental properties, the city of Plano is actively seeking community input.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 7, the Short Term-Rental Task Force hosted an in-person open house event, inviting Plano residents to delve into the intricate dynamics of short-term rentals and share their insights.
Simultaneously, an online platform was created to accommodate broader participation, ensuring voices from diverse quarters were heard.
In the spring of 2023, Plano conducted a study on short-term rentals, which started with a community survey. Based on the survey results, the city council appointed a Short-Term Rental Task Force in the summer.
An open house was held in August 2023 to collect feedback from residents and stakeholders on short-term rental issues. During the open house, the task force's findings were discussed. The task force has subsequently held a total of six meetings to address the issue of short-term rentals.
According to an official statement, the task force aims to evaluate the impact of short-term rentals on the city and present its findings to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Plano City Council next month, potentially leading to more permanent regulations.
Last year, Plano's city council, in collaboration with the Planning and Zoning Commission, voted 7-10 to enact a one-year ban on new short-term rentals that is set to expire on May 15, 2024, to address increasing complaints from residents concerning rental properties operated by companies like Airbnb and VRBO.
Residents have been pushing for the ban due to increased issues stemming from short-term rentals. On Sept. 23, 2022, Dallas police busted one of these rentals for operating as a brothel. Then, on Feb. 6, 2023, a stray bullet entered a child’s playroom after a fight broke out in a short-term rental.
To stay up to date on the latest information regarding Plano’s short-term rentals, sign up for the city’s mailing list here.