Austin adopts revised short‑term rental rules with new caps, provisional licensing direction

Austin City Council voted to adopt a revised short‑term rental ordinance on Sept. 11 after a day of public comment and several council amendments.

The ordinance tightens some multifamily limits, allows renters to hold STR licenses with explicit landlord authorization, delays parts of the new licensing regime to July 1, 2026, and directs staff to return with options for a lower application fee or provisional licensing mechanisms.

Council members and public speakers framed the debate as a housing and neighborhood‑stability issue. "This is really about housing," said Michael Curry, who spoke during public comment; Curry and other callers warned that unchecked STR growth removes long‑term housing units. Opponents at the microphone described safety and nuisance incidents tied to STRs in parts of the city.

Councilmember Ann Kitchen (note: not a speaker on the record for this transcript) was not on the dais for this meeting; the motion to adopt the main ordinance was made by Councilmember Natasha Harper Madison (via the motion maker recorded in the minutes as Councilmember Ellis)…