🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Beaumont, TX
Beaumont Raises the Bar: New STR Rules Bring Order and Opportunity
Beaumont Sets the Ground Rules: A Fresh Start for Short-Term Rentals
Beaumont is laying down a brand-new playbook for short-term rentals, and city leaders say the changes are all about making the system fair, safe, and friendly for both visitors and long-time neighbors. This week, the Beaumont City Council voted unanimously to approve new regulations for platforms like Airbnb and VRBO—rules they say will help the city tap into tourism while keeping residential areas calm and predictable.
The update comes as Beaumont’s collection of short-term rentals has grown into the triple digits. Assistant City Manager Chris Boone noted that STRs aren’t just for weekend getaways anymore. Between festival visitors and folks coming to town for refinery work, the city needed clearer guidance on what counts as a short-term stay and how these rentals should operate.
One of the biggest shifts is the requirement for annual safety inspections, a move designed to ensure each property meets safety standards before hosting guests. But the rules don’t stop there. New zoning restrictions now require a minimum 300-foot spacing between STR units in residential neighborhoods. Boone said the goal is to prevent entire blocks from turning into rows of rentals, which can change the character and comfort—of long-established communities. Spacing out properties helps preserve that residential feel, while still allowing rental hosts to participate in the market.
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The city also cleared up a major point of confusion: what exactly qualifies as a short-term rental under the new rules. Beaumont drew the line at 30 days. Anything shorter falls under the ordinance, covering everything from weekend festival stays to overnight visits. Stays lasting longer—like multi-month work assignments—won’t be subject to the same requirements.
Another notable change is Beaumont’s decision to expand its 15% hotel occupancy tax to include short-term rentals. Boone emphasized this is about fairness. Hotels have long paid into the city’s tourism efforts, while STRs previously had no mechanism for collecting or contributing comparable fees. The new system levels the playing field and helps strengthen local tourism programs.
City officials say the update isn’t meant to make life harder for property owners. In fact, the goal is quite the opposite. Boone described the ordinance as a framework that encourages neighbors and hosts to “live together peacefully,” ensuring the system works for everyone involved.
Now, short-term rental owners have 60 days to register their properties with the Planning and Community Development Department—a key step before the new rules fully kick in. For Beaumont, these changes mark a renewed commitment to thoughtful growth, neighborhood stability, and a welcoming environment for visitors and residents alike.
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