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Irving proposes tighter short‑term rental rules: parking, single‑lease rule and block caps
Summary
Code enforcement presented an ordinance to ban multiple lodging agreements at single‑family short‑term rentals, require on‑site parking (four spaces or one per bedroom), impose a 10% cap on STR concentration by block face, and add fire‑safety posting and equipment rules; staff outlined inspections and a timeline for zoning/CUP work this summer.
City staff proposed a set of ordinance changes on May 7 aimed at tightening operation and enforcement of short‑term rentals (STRs) in single‑family neighborhoods.
Shane Gillery, code enforcement director, told the council the proposed changes would prohibit multiple separate lodging agreements for a single‑family home (no room‑by‑room short‑term leasing), require hosts to post house rules and to provide proof of on‑site parking (a minimum of four spaces or one space per bedroom), and limit STR concentration on a single block face to 10 percent. Gillery said of the roughly 195 registered STR properties in Irving, about 25 would be legally nonconforming to the parking standard and would be handled under nonconforming use rules.
The ordinance also adds explicit fire‑safety requirements: hosts must submit floor plans and site plans as part of registration, install smoke detectors in bedrooms, place a carbon monoxide detector outside sleeping areas if the property has fuel‑burning appliances or an attached garage, and keep a minimum 5‑lb ABC fire extinguisher on site. Staff told the council it plans to present an inspections program and related fee schedule through the budget process and a zoning amendment to require conditional use permits (CUPs) for STR operation in single‑family zones; planning and legal work is expected to continue through July and a final ordinance is anticipated by September.
Enforcement and penalties: staff said the registration process will continue to rely on monitoring of online listings and property visits; repeated violations can lead to registration revocation. City attorneys confirmed STR ordinance violations are class C misdemeanors processed in municipal court, with fines up to $500 and the ability to pursue repeated‑offense revocations.
Why it matters: The changes aim to curb so‑called “pad split” or room‑by‑room short‑term leasing and restore residential neighborhood character while adding basic safety standards; they also codify limits to prevent clustering of STRs on a single block face.
What’s next: Staff will return with a zoning amendment for CUP requirements in July and a final code update, inspection program and fee structure later this year.
