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Wimberley council adopts immediate 120‑day moratorium on short‑term rental conditional‑use permits
Summary
After heated debate over notice and fairness, the Wimberley City Council voted 3‑1 on Nov. 6 to adopt a temporary 120‑day moratorium that halts acceptance, processing and approval of short‑term rental conditional‑use permits while staff and a committee review policy and draft consistent rules.
Wimberley — The City Council voted 3‑1 on Nov. 6 to adopt Resolution O8‑2025, placing an immediate 120‑day moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of short‑term rental conditional‑use permit applications.
Councilmember Rebecca Minnick, who introduced the resolution, said the pause would let a committee and city planner — working with the city attorney — produce a consistent policy for where and how short‑term rentals (STRs) should be allowed. “After our discussion last time ... our position is pretty inconsistent,” Minnick said, arguing that the moratorium will give the council time to “hash out all of these issues” and set clearer expectations for applicants and residents.
Opponents urged the council to give advance public notice before the moratorium took effect. One councilmember argued that immediate enforcement could be unfair to people actively considering investments or applications and recommended 30 to 45 days’ notice. “From a due‑process standpoint, I don't think it is appropriate to impose a moratorium on anything without giving notice,” the councilmember said.
City counsel told the council the body has zoning authority under Section 2.11 and that a resolution does not require the same notice as an ordinance; the council therefore could lawfully make the moratorium effective immediately. Counsel described Section 2.11 as providing general zoning authority to regulate land use for safety, congestion and the public welfare.
The resolution as adopted establishes findings, scope, duration and enforcement for a temporary pause of up to 120 days and directs staff and the ad hoc committee to review definitions and rules for STR conditional‑use permits. Councilmembers said the moratorium can be lifted earlier if the committee forwards recommendations before the 120 days expire.
Council recorded the vote as 3 in favor, 1 opposed; one member did not vote on the record. Staff reported there were no pending STR applications at the time the moratorium was adopted.
What happens next: staff will notify the public of the moratorium, convene the review committee, and work with the city attorney and planning staff to draft proposed regulations and a timeline for Planning & Zoning consideration. The ordinance or code amendments, if any, will return to the council for final action.
