News Summary
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has enacted Senate Bill 1567, altering the city’s longstanding ‘No More Than Four’ ordinance. This law allows more than four unrelated individuals to share rented homes, addressing ongoing housing affordability concerns for students. While it has been welcomed by students at Texas A&M University, city officials express worry over its localized impact and potential challenges related to increased occupancy. The College Station City Council is now developing a Housing Action Plan to manage these changes effectively.
College Station, Texas – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed Senate Bill 1567 into law, effectively altering the city’s long-standing No More Than Four ordinance. The legislation, which allows more than four unrelated individuals to reside together in rented properties, has been a topic of contention in the community.
The No More Than Four ordinance has been in effect since 1939 but saw increased enforcement last year. This stricter approach was prompted by complaints from residents regarding disturbances caused by large student groups and concerns about declining property values in surrounding neighborhoods. The new law aims to enhance housing affordability for students by enabling them to share rental expenses more effectively.
While students at Texas A&M University have welcomed the change, viewing it as a potential solution to the ongoing struggle for affordable housing in the area, city officials have responded with disappointment. They argue that the legislation unduly targets specific municipalities, with College Station being one of approximately five or six cities affected by the new rule.
The law is particularly applicable to cities with populations under 250,000 situated near higher education institutions that have enrollments exceeding 20,000 students. Mayor John Nichols has criticized the localized nature of the bill, questioning its fairness and morality, particularly as larger cities are excluded from its stipulations. Notably, neither the Senate nor the House versions of SB 1567 had a local sponsor from College Station, and city officials have testified against it in legislative hearings.
The city is now tasked with addressing potential challenges that could arise from increased occupancy rates, especially regarding parking issues, drainage systems, and overall neighborhood quality. The city intends to implement regulations that focus on alleviating these concerns while accommodating the additional housing demands created by the new law.
Mayor Nichols highlighted that older neighborhoods could be at significant risk of unplanned overoccupancy, which may strain existing infrastructure, drainage, and transportation networks. College Station has pre-existing restrictions concerning impervious surfaces, complicating the prospect of accommodating more vehicles in community areas with smaller lots.
The legislation’s passage comes amid the city’s ongoing struggle with housing supply shortages and rising costs. Recent research indicates that 58% of renters and 18% of homeowners in College Station allocate over 30% of their monthly incomes toward housing expenses. This has positioned affordability as a critical issue among both students and residents, with a comprehensive survey revealing that improved affordability is a top priority within the community.
In response to these challenges, the College Station City Council is actively deliberating a Housing Action Plan. This initiative aims to diversify available housing units and promote the creation and preservation of affordable housing options. Community feedback has underscored the necessity for increased housing density, highlighting the need for municipal recognition of college students as vital contributors to the community rather than as separate entities.
The ripple effects of SB 1567 and the city’s evolving strategies for tackling housing demand could shape future living arrangements in College Station. As it stands, local officials are committed to balancing the interests of students with those of established residents, all while safeguarding the quality of life that characterizes College Station’s neighborhoods.
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Additional Resources
- News Source SMDP
- Wikipedia: Affordable Housing
- News Source The Battalion
- Google Search: Housing Affordability in College Station
- News Source CBS News
- Google Scholar: Student Housing Policy
- News Source The Eagle
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Housing Legislation
- News Source WTAW
- Google News: College Station Housing
Author: STAFF HERE COLLEGE WRITER
The COLLEGE STATION STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECollegeStation.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in College Station, Brazos County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo, Chilifest, and Aggie Muster. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Brazos Valley, plus leading businesses in education, biotechnology, and retail that power the local economy such as Texas A&M University, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and H-E-B. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
