§ 44-48. Registration of lodging provider; form and contents; execution; certificate of authority.

(a)

The purpose of this section is to establish regulations for the use of residential single family dwelling units ("dwelling units" herein) as short-term rentals to ensure the collection and payment of hotel/motel occupancy taxes.

(b)

For purposes of this section: An owner shall designate the owner, or an agent or a representative to comply with the requirements of this section on behalf of the owner. The owner or designated agent or representative is referred to as "operator" herein.

(c)

The owner shall not be relieved from any personal responsibility or personal liability for noncompliance with any applicable law, rule or regulation pertaining to the use and occupancy of the residential dwelling unit as a short-term rental unit, regardless of whether such noncompliance was committed by the owner's authorized agent or representative or the occupants of the owner's short-term rental unit or their guests.

(d)

This section is not intended to provide any owner of residential property with the right or privilege to violate any private conditions, covenants and restrictions applicable to the owner's property that may prohibit the use of such owner's residential property for short-term rental purposes as defined in this section.

(e)

The owner/operator who offers for rent or advertises for rent (in any manner) a short-term rental of a dwelling unit shall obtain a short-term rental registration and any other required documents from the village located at 1304 Monument Drive, Surfside Beach Texas 77541, the village may be contacted at 979-233-1531.

(f)

The owner/operator must submit the following information on a short-term rental registration form:

(1)

The name, address, email and telephone number of the owner/operator of the subject short-term rental unit;

(2)

The name, address, email and 24-hour telephone number of the local contact person;

(3)

The local contact person is the person designated by the owner or the operator who shall be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week for the purpose of:

a.

Responding in person within one hour to complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants of the short-term rental unit; and

b.

Taking remedial action to resolve any such complaints.

(4)

The name and address of the proposed short-term rental unit;

(5)

The number of bedrooms and the applicable overnight and daytime occupancy limit of the proposed short-term rental unit;

(6)

The property ID number as listed on the Brazoria County Appraisal District; and

(g)

If any information on the registration form changes, the owner/operator must modify that information within 30 days.

(h)

Registration fee:

(1)

The short-term rental registration form shall be accompanied by an initial registration fee as established by the city council.

a.

The initial rental registration fee shall by $50.00 per rental unit;

b.

The initial rental registration fee is waived for those properties that have been properly remitting hotel occupancy tax.

(2)

A registration is valid from the date the completed registration is filed with the village and payment of the registration fee has been made, unless the ownership of the short-term rental changes.

(3)

Each property shall be issued a registration number.

(i)

The registration number must appear on any advertisement of the property available for short-term rental.

(Ord. No. 2005-14, § 5, 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 2017.06.13A, § 2, 6-13-2017)