Residents divided over new El Paso ordinance banning home-based entertainment venues

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The City of El Paso is moving forward with creating an ordinance that will ban homeowners from renting out their homes to host parties.

To avoid confusion, this ordinance is different from a short-term rental ordinance that the city has discussed before.

Instead, this ordinance is targeted towards those who rent out either their backyard, pool, or other specific part of their home for others to host a party.

It would prevent homeowners from using residential properties as an “entertainment venue.”

RELATED:El Paso considers ban on using homes as party venues, city council to discuss

“Unfortunately, we have people having business venues in single housing dwellings in our neighborhoods. And these are businesses that advertise online for up to 200 people in their backyards,” said city representative for East El Paso, Art Fierro.

Some homeowners against this ordinance said that the city is stepping into a territory, they have no right to control.

“I think that it would just be completely wrong for El Paso to take that type of– dare I say– dictatorship over our communities,” said Robin Cooper, a west El Paso resident.

One homeowner during public comment on the city council agenda, said he now has more questions on what exactly constitutes a home being used as an entertainment venue.

“My question is my home has a pool. Is my home now an entertainment venue? Because I have a pool? Because I have green grass and a pergola back there. The city’s going to have to define what is an entertainment venue,” said an El Paso resident.

However, other residents said they are in support of this ordinance because there has been too much of a nuisance and damage within their neighborhoods.

“There’s been a lot of noise. There’s been a lot of parking problems. And I think it should be addressed,” said Carol Powell, an east El Paso resident.

One woman in particular said her next-door neighbor rents out large parties regularly.

“This is directly next to ours.” It’s like having a Peter Piper pizza front doors in my backyard,” said Theresa Chavira.

Fierro said that this wouldn’t prevent families from having parties within their own homes for celebrations, quinceañeras, and other events. It would only prevent an excessive entertainment party.

“Because the big issue here that I want to make very, very clear, we’re not talking about a private family gathering. These business venues need to go into business areas where they’re able to get the proper parking, where they’re able to have the proper insurance,” said Fierro.

“It’s a nice thing to have, but not to this extent. This is somebody, you know, capitalizing on just having a yard and having a party,” said Chavira.

The City Manager Dionne Mack and City Attorney Karla Nieman have been instructed to format and write the ordinance and present it to the city council within 120 days.

RECOMMENDED:El Paso advocacy group director challenges migrant crime narratives on Capitol Hill

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.