Granbury adds permitting requirement, enforcement option for bed-and-breakfast hosted and short-term rentals

The Granbury City Council on Sept. 2 adopted Ordinance No. 25-556 to amend Chapter 4, Article 4.16 of the city code to establish permitting requirements for hosted bed-and-breakfast operations and short-term rentals, and to add an enforcement mechanism that can lead to utility disconnection for repeated noncompliance after required notice and process.

City staff explained the ordinance adds a permit requirement, clarifies code enforcement steps, and provides an additional enforcement tool — disconnection of city utility service — to address operators advertising short-term rentals without required permits. Staff said the city will follow required notice and due-process steps before any disconnection and will train utility staff and code enforcement to apply the new authority carefully, including accounting for circumstances such as primary-residence occupants and weather-related safety concerns.

Why it matters: Staff said the change responds to neighborhoods where short-term rentals have operated without required permits, produced neighbor complaints and violated homeowners association rules. The council voted 6–0 to adopt the ordinance at first reading and closed the public hearing after no members of the public asked to speak.

The ordinance creates a permitting pathway for hosted bed-and-breakfasts and short-term rental operators and imposes penalties for noncompliance. Staff noted the city will pursue citations and appeal processes prior to any utility disconnection and that shared-meter situations will be handled through utility-billing procedures to identify responsible accounts.

The council directed staff to prepare administrative procedures and staff training to ensure enforcement actions follow legal requirements and to publish guidance for operators on the new permitting process.