COLLEGE STATION, TX — New rules are coming to those who own a short-term rental in College Station.
Amid record-breaking growth, the city is looking at Waco and other Texas communities to see what works and what doesn't.
Specifically, Aggie game day brings thousands to the Bryan/College Station area.
This influx helps fuel the surge in short term rentals.
"It's our responsibility as hosts to consider our neighbors and make sure we are renting to good people. and I don't think that's something the city should try to regulate," Ashley Burnham, short term rental owner, said.
But regulation is coming.
In the next few months, the city hopes to present an ordinance for city council approval.
"We've noticed over time obviously the growth in the short-term market and so one of the things the council has tasked us with looking at is regulating it and how to make sure they collect rental occupancy taxes," Brian Piscacek with the city of College Station said.
The ordinance will include an annual registration, having protections for guests and figuring out a way to make sure str owners are collecting hotel occupancy taxes.
According to Texas tax code, a short-term rental should be treated the same as a hotel. So they have an obligation to collect the hotel occupancy tax.
Burnham hopes the new rules won't include more fees.
"I don't really charge that much anyway so that would make it difficult," Burnham said.
She already sets requirements to protect her property and her neighbors.
"I think it's a good idea. Regulations are usually a good idea. So it just depends on how in depth they want to get. If I’m going to be micro-managed, I'm not going to like that," she said.