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El Paso council hears months-long complaints about backyard party venues and short‑term pool rentals
Summary
City staff outlined existing code and a planned public education campaign after residents described repeated noise, parking and safety problems from rented party venues and private pool rentals; council asked for more data before drafting ordinance changes.
El Paso city staff presented an informational briefing and outreach plan on short‑term rentals of residential properties for parties and for paid use of private swimming pools, following months of constituent complaints about noise, blocked driveways and safety. Planning and Inspections staff said city code already prohibits ‘‘dance halls’’ and similar commercial uses in residential zoning; the briefing proposed clarifying the code language and launching an education effort to make residents and property owners aware of existing restrictions.
The presentation emphasized the two main enforcement challenges: establishing proof that a house or backyard is being rented (staff said enforcement needs records or on‑site evidence to sustain municipal court charges) and timing enforcement to catch events, which are most likely to occur on weekends. Code Enforcement Director Steve Alvarado described current tools — noise meters, nighttime enforcement teams and municipal citations — but said many complaints require follow‑up investigation, and that property owners are ultimately liable for violations at their properties.
Residents and neighborhood leaders said those tools haven’t been working. Dozens of speakers urged stricter enforcement and stronger penalties, saying repeat offenders continue to rent houses for hundreds of people, use private pools for paid events and leave neighborhoods with trash, vehicles blocking street access and in some cases public safety risks. Several speakers sought steep fines, clearer processes for evidence collection and non‑discriminatory enforcement across neighborhoods.
Several council members asked staff for more granular data — 311 and police call records, locations and complaint counts — before approving any code changes. Deputy City Manager Nicole Cody and Planning staff said the next steps will be a public education campaign this spring (webpage content, mailers, PSAs and targeted outreach), continued monitoring of listings and social platforms used to advertise rentals, and targeted weekend enforcement sweeps. Staff also said they will bring any proposed ordinance language to the City Plan Commission for public vetting before council consideration.
Council members signaled they want a measured two‑step approach: begin outreach and clarifying code language to the public now, collect data from residents and enforcement teams, and return with potential ordinance or enforcement changes in a future meeting.
Ending: Staff said the communication campaign will begin in spring 2025 and that enforcement will continue through weekend patrols and follow‑up investigations; councilmembers asked staff to return with a complaint map and call‑volume data to inform any ordinance drafting.
