By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
The McKinney City Council voted 4–2 Tuesday to require annual registration for short-term rental properties operating within city limits. The ordinance was approved during the council’s March 3 meeting after discussion among council members and public comments from residents concerned about the growing presence of rental homes in residential neighborhoods.
Supporters of the measure said the registration program will help the city identify operators and ensure hotel occupancy taxes required for temporary lodging are properly collected. Critics argued the requirement may be unnecessary, saying the city already has nuisance ordinances addressing issues such as noise, trash, and parking.
What the Registration Program Requires
Short-term rentals (STR) are homes or apartments rented for a few days or weeks, often through online platforms such as Airbnb. These stays are generally booked for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
The ordinance approved Tuesday does not ban short-term rentals in McKinney. Instead, it requires operators to register their property annually with the city and provide a 24-hour contact person who can respond to complaints or issues. The program does not include a registration fee and takes effect immediately.
City officials said the registration system is intended to help identify properties operating as short-term rentals and confirm they are paying required hotel occupancy taxes.
Growth of Short-Term Rentals (STR)
Presentation materials provided to the council indicated that short-term rentals have grown significantly in recent years. The slides estimated about 486 listings in and around McKinney, a number that’s hard to pin down because the city doesn’t keep a formal inventory.
Earlier estimates cited in the presentation showed roughly 354 listings in April 2024, up from about 200 in September 2021, with many concentrated in the Historic District near downtown McKinney.
Until now, the city has not regulated short-term rentals as a distinct use in its zoning code. Instead, they have been treated like other residential properties, with complaints related to noise, trash, or parking handled through existing nuisance ordinances.
Council members first discussed the issue in a 2016 work session, when staff were directed to monitor the growth of the industry and track complaints. The topic returned in November 2024, when council asked staff to develop options for a potential registration program.
Debate Among Council Members
Not all council members supported the registration requirement.
Mayor Bill Cox said he opposed the ordinance, arguing the city already has ordinances addressing issues such as noise, trash, lighting, and parking.
“In McKinney we have ordinances in place for trash, noise, lighting, parking, and any other nuisance that might be out there,” Cox said, adding that he views short-term rental concerns primarily as an enforcement issue.
Councilman Patrick Cloutier supported the registration requirement.
“Registration would help us reconcile these properties to make sure they’re paying hotel occupancy taxes,” Cloutier said, adding that it would also help the city know who is operating the rentals.
Residents Raise Neighborhood Concerns
Residents used the public comment period to describe how short‑term rentals are affecting their blocks.
Gina Hammack told council members the rentals have become a growing concern in her neighborhood, which does not have a homeowners association.
“Not only does it increase the traffic, it increases noise, trash, things like that,” Hammack said. “Within our neighborhood there’s three… four or five bedroom houses. They advertise between 16 and 20 people that can stay there each night.”
Another resident, Stephanie South, said she didn’t initially know a nearby home was being used as a short‑term rental until the signs became obvious.
“I figured this out a few months ago by 10 to 20 cars parked around the front of their house… trash falling out of their garbage cans,” South said.
South said she hopes the city will take steps to preserve neighborhood stability.
“I want my neighborhood to stay a coveted neighborhood. I want my grandchildren to feel safe there,” she said.
Comparison With Other Cities
Information presented to the council showed that several nearby cities already regulate short-term rentals through registration programs.
Cities including Allen, Frisco, and Plano require annual registration or permits and charge fees, along with additional requirements such as local contacts or monitoring systems.
The program approved in McKinney is more limited, focusing primarily on identifying operators and requiring a contact person who can respond to complaints or emergencies.
For some residents, the requirement is only a starting point. Resident Gina Hammack told council members that requiring short-term rentals to register with the city would be “a bare minimum.”
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