HOUSTON – Two separate overnight shootings, both tied to large parties at short-term rental homes, are raising new questions about public safety — on the same day Houston’s new short-term rental ordinance officially went into effect.
Just after midnight, police say five people were shot at a party at a short-term rental near Live Oak and Elgin.
“I hit the ground. I saw people bleeding. I saw mace,” said Michael Dior, a partygoer.
About two hours later, officers responded to another shooting at a short-term rental near Yorkshire and Crosstimbers, where police say two people were shot during a party attended by an estimated 300 people.
Both incidents happened as Houston’s new short-term rental ordinance went into effect — a measure city leaders say is designed to address ongoing complaints from neighbors about crime, loud parties, and other nuisances tied to some short-term rentals.
Residents say those issues have been a problem for years.
“Not just parties, it’s blaring music up and down the street, drag racing, hooting and hollering all hours of the night,” said Montrose resident Gretchen Shoop, who previously spoke with KPRC 2 about a party house in her neighborhood. “I felt like they were down in my basement in a nightclub.”
Under the new ordinance, short-term rental owners are required to register with the city, pay an annual fee, list a 24/7 emergency contact, and complete human-trafficking awareness training. The city can also revoke registrations for repeated violations or certain criminal activity at a property. Owners who violate the rules can face fines ranging from $100 to $500 per violation, with each day counting as a separate offense.
Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who supported the ordinance, said the violence underscores why the city moved forward.
“First and foremost, my prayers are with the people affected by this senseless violence,” Evans-Shabazz said. “This is exactly why it was important for the city to implement an ordinance that can control some of that activity.”
Dr. Evans-Shabazz said the goal is accountability, making sure owners are responsible for what happens at their properties.
“Accountability is the first part,” Shabazz said. “The owners ultimately are responsible for what goes on in their property.”
Shabazz also raised concerns about short-term rentals operating in deed-restricted neighborhoods, saying enforcement of those restrictions could reduce problem properties before parties even start.
“That is a major problem,” he said. “When you have deed restrictions, you expect people to abide by them.”
But critics argue the ordinance doesn’t go far enough to prevent dangerous situations before they escalate.
Sebastien Long, president of the Texas Short‑Term Rental Association, says responsible hosts share neighbors’ frustrations — but feel key safety tools were left out.
“We are not complicit in these parties. We’re not throwing these parties,” Long said. “The hosts are usually victims in these situations as well.”
Long says the association urged city leaders to require noise-monitoring devices, guest identity verification, and clearer guidance on when police can intervene — proposals that were not included in the final ordinance.
He warns the ordinance could even have unintended consequences if hosts fear losing their permits for calling police too early.
“We want to help fix the problem,” Long said. “But they need to listen to what responsible hosts are saying.”
City leaders say the ordinance is a first step and will give Houston better oversight of thousands of short-term rentals operating across the city. How effective it will be in preventing violent incidents like the ones seen overnight remains to be seen.
For now, neighbors and hosts alike say the goal is the same — keeping residential streets safe.