Quick Facts
About Short-term Rentals In Lewisville
There are nearly 140 entire homes listed as short-term rentals in Lewisville, including every zip code. Many of these STRs are non-owner-occupied. They are empty houses owned by investors who do not live in Lewisville and have no vested interest in the health and vitality of Lewisville neighborhoods.
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These are hotels operating illegally in residential districts. ​
Why STRs are terrible for Lewisville neighborhoods:
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Quality of life issues. An STR brings an ongoing stream of transients to your Lewisville neighborhood, along with increased noise, trash, and cars on the street.
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Concern for personal safety. STRs often are rented for large parties that can become dangerous events with drug use, weapons, and violence.
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The loss of a neighborhood. STRs are empty houses. Without full-time residents, your Lewisville neighborhood loses its character and changes its very existence.
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Lack of available housing. STRs contribute to the ongoing problem of housing availability and affordability because these homes are not available for purchase or for long-term renters.
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The loss of a community. Without people living in houses, everything else that makes Lewisville such a great place to live will decline including schools, parks, places of worship, libraries, and non-profit and civic organizations.
STRs in Lewisville
Nearly 140 homes are currently listed as short-term rentals in Lewisville. This is a huge increase from from homes listed in February 2022. The growth rate is over 20% a year.
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All of these STRs could be homes for people who want to purchase or rent and become full-time residents of Lewisville.
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This scourge is like a cancer in your neighborhoods. Act now to prevent this cancer from killing your city like it has so many others.
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Contact: mapstr@tnclewisville.org for a list of all Lewisville STR locations.
Doesn't the City of Lewisville have zoning?
Yes, the City of Lewisville has Zoning Ordinance document that defines all zoning districts and related ordinances. According to the ordinance Hotels are not allowed to operate in Single Family Residential areas.
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Texas state law defines Short Term Rentals as hotel operations, therefore the STR's operating in Lewisville are operating illegally and the city code enforcement should act to close them down. See below for more details.
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All Lewisville neighborhoods, with or without a homeowners association (HOA), are zoned residential districts.
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Texas Tax Code, Title 2, Subtitle E, Chapter 156 ( TAX CODE CHAPTER 156. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX) states that short-term rentals are considered hotels for the imposition of taxes.
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TAX CODE CHAPTER 156. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX
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Contradiction in Lewisville Zoning Laws?
Municode Library
Hotel, Motel or Inn - An establishment offering lodging, the use of guest rooms or sleeping accommodations, to the transient public for compensation, which furnishes customary hotel services and may contain a restaurant, banquet hall, meeting rooms and other accessory uses. A hotel, motel or inn is a non-residential use.
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Single-Family Residential zoning districts R-18, R-12, R-9, R-7.5, R-6, R-5 allowed uses or with Special Use Permit shown in Exhibit VII.2.3-2.
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Municode Library
Section VII.2.1 - "Unlisted uses are not allowed." Nowhere in the above exhibit does it mention hotels (thus, the assumption can be made that hotels are NOT allowed in single-family neighborhoods as rules are currently written).
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Hotels ARE allowed in Mixed-Use Zoning Districts (Exhibit VII.2.3-3), Non-residential Zoning Districts (Exhibit VII.2.3-4) and should have the minimum standards under Section VII.3.9 applied to them.
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The recommendation put in front of Council on Slide 15 is acknowledging that STRs ARE considered hotels if the City wants to imply the HOT tax on them (as in accordance with Texas Tax Code first cited above), but are clearly NOT allowed in Single-Family Residential Districts per current Lewisville zoning laws (outlined just above).
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Research
Within the City of Lewisville zoning document, there is a section that lists all the allowed uses for residential districts and non-residential districts.
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Further research to complete this for Lewisville is ongoing. Watch this space.
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A blank listing means the use is prohibited. See below for this definition.
And yes, the city of Lewisville has existing zoning ordinances that prohibit hotels/motels and boarding houses in all residential districts.
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Municode Library
Hotel, Motel or Inn - An establishment offering lodging, the use of guest rooms or sleeping accommodations, to the transient public for compensation, which furnishes customary hotel services and may contain a restaurant, banquet hall, meeting rooms and other accessory uses. A hotel, motel or inn is a non-residential use.
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Single-Family Residential zoning districts R-18, R-12, R-9, R-7.5, R-6, R-5 allowed uses or with Special Use Permit shown in Exhibit VII.2.3-2.
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STRs in residential neighborhoods are likely prohibited by the current Lewisville zoning ordinance.
STRs are destroying the health and safety and quality of life in Lewisville neighborhoods.
Your street could be next.
Join us to save your neighborhood.
