The city of Corpus Christi began enforcing its short-term rental ordinance Sept. 1. The new rules apply to single-family residences rented out for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
Approved by a 7-2 vote by the Corpus Christi City Council on June 28, the measure requires short-term rental, or vacation, property owners to obtain a permit as of July 11. In addition, the owner of the STR property must pay a $50 permit fee — increasing to $250 in 2023 — and display the permit number on any advertisement for the rental home.
Vacation property rentals, which often use third-party services such as Airbnb and Vrbo, rank among the fastest-growing segments of the leisure travel market. According to the Research and Markets website, the U.S. short-term rental market was valued at $14.32 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $21.53 billion in 2026.
Corpus Christi has designated SRT properties as Type 1 (owner/operator occupied) and Type 2 (non-owner/operator occupied). The latter can make up no more than 15 percent of the properties on each side of a residential block. Type 1 properties have so such restrictions.
The ordinance does not allow STRs in single-family-zoned areas on Padre and Mustang islands. Residents there have complained about loud parties, trash, and illegal parking from guests. In 2020, the Padre Isles Property Owners Association conducted a survey that showed more than 80 percent of its residents opposed STRs in the community.
An STR owner, when applying for a permit from the city, must provide a 24-hour contact number, a list of owners or agents affiliated with the home, a sketch of the floor plan that shows escape routes, and self-certification that the owner or responsible party has met insurance and safety requirements. The property is also subject to the city’s 9 percent hotel/motel occupancy tax.
To assist short-term rental owners and guests, the city set up a website that includes a link to STR permit applications, information on locating a vacation home in Corpus Christi, contact data for reporting a violation, FAQs, and an introductory video.
