Bexar County Revokes Short Term Rental Permit Due to Tax Reporting Failures

The San Antonio Zoning Board of Adjustment convened on August 18, 2025, to address a significant case involving the revocation of a short-term rental (STR) permit due to non-compliance with tax reporting requirements. The case centered on a property located at 5454 Vista Trail, owned by Anthony Uzule, who was unable to attend the meeting due to being out of state.

The board learned that the permit was revoked on July 1, 2025, after the owner failed to report hotel occupancy taxes (HOT) for over a year, despite multiple notifications from the city. The finance department indicated that revenue reports were missing from April 2024 through February 2025, leading to delinquency notices being mailed out. The owner claimed that important communications regarding the permit status were sent to a spam folder, which contributed to the oversight.

During the meeting, Uzule's family presented a letter from him explaining the situation and expressed a desire for reconsideration of the permit revocation. They argued that the failure to receive notifications was unintentional and that all taxes were paid in full after the notice of revocation was received.

The board discussed the notification process, noting that both email and regular mail were used to inform the owner of the delinquency. Staff confirmed that the final notice was sent to the same email address used for the permit application, which had been functioning correctly.

The board's deliberations included questions about the timeline of the permit issuance and the owner's attempts to rectify the situation. If the appeal were granted, the permit would be reinstated with its original expiration date of April 11, 2027.

The meeting highlighted the importance of clear communication between the city and property owners, particularly regarding compliance with regulations that directly affect community standards and safety. The outcome of this case will not only impact the Uzule family but also set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, emphasizing the need for effective notification systems in municipal processes.