by Cobb & Counsel | Jan 4, 2022 | Regulatory Risk Analysis and Compliance
The City of Austin is said to have “one of the oldest and most obstructive short-term rental laws in the state.” The city adopted an ordinance in 2016 to ban all “Type 2” short-term rentals (STRs)—i.e., a single-family STR that is not owner-occupied—by 2022. Property...
by Cobb & Counsel | Dec 3, 2021 | Regulatory Risk Analysis and Compliance
Biometric technology has become a part of our everyday lives, with little fanfare. You probably use your face or fingerprint to unlock your phone. Alexa, Siri, and other smart speakers use voice identification. Employers, airports, and banks are exploring ways to use...
by Cobb & Counsel | Nov 29, 2021 | Regulatory Risk Analysis and Compliance
You never miss the water ‘til the well runs dry. According to the Texas Water Development Board, existing water supplies are not enough to meet the state’s future demand for water during times of drought. Along with other water management strategies, a water utility...
by Cobb & Counsel | Nov 9, 2021 | Litigation & Local Counsel, Regulatory Risk Analysis and Compliance
Across Texas, many cities are considering adopting or changing municipal ordinances to regulate short-term rentals (STRs) like Airbnbs. But how far can municipal governments go in regulating STRs? Can a city ban STRs completely? Although the case law is scant and the...
by Cobb & Counsel | Oct 26, 2021 | Litigation & Local Counsel, Regulatory Risk Analysis and Compliance
For the better part of a decade, Texas lawmakers have tried—and thus far, failed—to pass laws regulating short-term rentals (STRs) across the state. STRs are required to pay the state’s hotel occupancy tax, and a business entity created to manage or operate STRs will...
by Cobb & Counsel | Oct 25, 2021 | Litigation & Local Counsel, Regulatory Risk Analysis and Compliance
The short-term rental (STR) industry is booming, bringing in big money for some homeowners—but not everyone is a fan. STRs can attract rowdy vacationers, and large groups of renters put a strain on neighborhood parking. Under Texas law, a homeowners’ association can...
