The Austin City Council will consider changes to the Land Development Code in February and April 2025. Proposed changes would overhaul short-term rental regulations and update the preservation bonus used for the HOME amendments. 

Short-term rental (STR) code amendments will be considered in February. These changes are needed because the City’s current rules are largely no longer enforceable. The changes will modify regulations to allow STR use with City approval. The changes will also include new requirements that focus on regulating STR owners, operators, and platforms as businesses and enforcing licensing requirements.

The public hearings on these proposed amendments will be held at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St., on the following dates: 

• Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1 p.m.  
  Joint Planning Commission and City Council Meeting 
• Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m.  
  Planning Commission Meeting 
• Thursday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.   
  City Council Meeting 

The City of Austin will also be hosting the following in-person and virtual informational sessions Jan. 21-27:

• Tuesday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Zoom
• Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6-8 p.m., Montopolis Recreation and Community Center 
• Thursday, Jan. 23, 6-8 p.m., Permitting and Development Center
• Monday, Jan. 27, 6-8 p.m., Austin Central Library

Visit publicinput.com/DSDNotice for more information about these sessions. 

Changes to the preservation bonus in response to City Council direction will be considered in April. This proposed amendment will increase the interior square footage allowed for two new housing units if an existing housing unit is preserved (with no increase to impervious cover). 

The public hearings on these proposed amendments will be held at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St., on the following dates: 

• Tuesday, April 1, 2 p.m.   
  Joint Planning Commission and City Council Meeting 
• Tuesday, April 8, 6 p.m.  
  Planning Commission Meeting 
• Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m.   
  City Council Meeting 

The City of Austin will also be collecting feedback on these proposed changes virtually at publicinput.com/DSDNotice.

The Austin community is encouraged to attend these meetings and give feedback on these proposed changes to short-term rentals and the preservation bonus. Participants must register in advance to speak at the public hearings. Notices of these public hearings are being mailed to over 725,000 Austin residents, posted to the City of Austin’s website, and shared on social media. More detailed information about these code amendments can be found at publicinput.com/DSDNotice, including how to register to speak, submit a written protest, and provide feedback. 

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