🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Woodlands Township, TX
The Woodlands Ramps Up Oversight on Short-Term Rentals
A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates — Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.
The Woodlands Ramps Up Oversight on Short-Term Rentals
The Woodlands Township is dialing up its efforts to keep short-term rentals in check, thanks to a new subcommittee that’s actively tracking STR activity across the community. As of mid-2025, the committee has mapped out 120 active short-term rentals, setting the stage for possible future updates to township policy.
The STR subcommittee, made up of Development Standards Committee (DSC) members and township staff, was formed in response to the growing popularity of short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. While The Woodlands has had STR regulations on the books since 2019, township officials say it’s time to reassess how well those standards are keeping up with current trends.
“We are in review of what the next steps are,” said Arthur Bredehoft, chair of the DSC during a May 28 township board meeting. Among those next steps? Possibly hiring a third-party service to audit and review STR activity potentially in collaboration with platforms like Airbnb. Bredehoft said the township has already identified an additional 35 to 40 properties that might be operating as STRs but have not yet registered.
Proper registration is no small matter. Homeowners offering short-term rentals must submit an application, sign a use and maintenance agreement, show proof of insurance, appoint a local contact, and pay a $500 compliance deposit. Rentals must also be renewed annually.
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The bigger picture is about compliance and accountability. Bredehoft stressed that accurate tracking helps ensure taxes are being paid and gives residents a clear path to file complaints if an STR is out of line with township rules.
“If residents have concerns, now you have a process to document that and bring action against that applicant,” he said.
Legal counsel Bret Strong added that enforcement has improved in recent years, with the township successfully revoking two STR permits that failed to comply with the rules. Most STR operators are doing things by the book, Strong noted, but the tools are now in place to deal with the exceptions.
The subcommittee’s mapping project is also about understanding density patterns — which neighborhoods are seeing the most STR activity and how that compares with peer communities. With tourism on the rise, balancing visitor accommodation with residential peace and order is more important than ever.
As conversations continue and data builds, The Woodlands may consider new ordinances or updates to its existing STR framework. For now, township leaders are focused on fine-tuning what’s already in place, keeping STRs safe, compliant, and neighbor-friendly.
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