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Richardson council directs staff to draft 90-day moratorium on new short-term rental registrations
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Summary
At a Richardson City Council meeting, staff recommended and council members supported a 90-day temporary prohibition on new short-term rental registrations in residential districts with a 30-day grace period; council directed staff to place an ordinance on next week's agenda for consideration.
Richardson — City staff on Monday recommended a 90-day temporary prohibition on new short-term rental (STR) registrations in residential districts, and the City Council directed staff to place an ordinance on next week's agenda.
City Attorney Joe Grafida told the council the proposed temporary ban would apply to new registrations in residential, apartment, duplex and patio-home districts while allowing already-registered STRs to continue operating. "We would prohibit new short term rentals in any residential apartment duplex patio home district," Grafida said, adding that the prohibition is intended to give the city time to gather better data about the number and location of STRs.
Grafida said staff would provide a 30-day grace period to allow operators to register before the prohibition takes effect, and that operating without registration would trigger a $500-per-day fine. He said the city expects to implement new monitoring software in June or July and to return to council with findings in September.
Council members across the chamber voiced support for the temporary measure as a data-collection step rather than an immediate broader ban. Council member Corcoran said the pause is "responsible and responsive" and would help staff develop regulations that respect property rights while addressing residents' concerns about clustering and neighborhood impacts. Council member Justice and others described repeated constituent complaints about clustering in neighborhoods such as Owens Park.
Several council members asked staff to cross-reference police and code complaint data with the forthcoming registry to better understand whether complaint volumes align with actual STR locations. Council members also urged proactive outreach to platforms and professional organizations so that property managers and listing services are aware of the registration window.
Mayor (presiding) stated that, "if so directed, we'll put this ordinance on next week." Council accepted that direction, and staff was instructed to prepare an ordinance for the next regular meeting.
What happens next: Staff will prepare the ordinance and bring it back for formal consideration. The council will receive software-generated data later this year to inform whether the temporary prohibition should be extended or whether further changes to the STR ordinance are warranted.
