Megan Navarro
WIMBERLEY — Wimberley City Council approved several zoning changes in accordance with state law at its Thursday, June 18, meeting, along with extending the current temporary moratorium on short-term rental (STR) applications.
Zoning
The first zoning change relates to amendments to the Chapter 9, Article 9.03 - Zoning, Division 7 - Administration and Enforcement in the city of Wimberley’s code of ordinances. Currently, a supermajority vote is required by city council to approve a zoning change where there are protests from the owners of at least 20% of land within 200 feet of the subject property.
However, with the newly-passed House Bill (HB) 24, that protest threshold has increased to 60% for zoning changes that result in an increase in residential housing.
Another component of this is due to HB 4506, which introduces a new definition within the zoning hearing section of the ordinance known as a comprehensive zoning change. This is for citywide changes where zoning is being completely repealed to adopt a new one, along with those that involve more residential housing, according to director of Development Services Nathan Glaiser.
“This bill was really passed to encourage more residential housing and make it easier for cities to make those zoning changes that would allow for that,” he said.
Secondly, another change in ordinance — related to temporary structures and adding mobile food vendors and mobile food courts — was discussed.
HB 2844, which becomes effective July 1, limits and preempts certain local regulations and requires municipalities to ensure that local ordinances governing mobile food vendors are consistent with state law. Currently, the city of Wimberley uses its temporary structure ordinance to permit food trucks, but the new law no longer allows for local permitting; it all goes through the state, Glaiser explained.
“This ordinance is essentially just removing that temporary structure ordinance, where if someone wants a food truck, they have to come and present to [council] and you vote on it. We have to get rid of that process and at this moment, it does not replace it with anything,” Glaiser said, adding that with the new law, food trucks will now be overseen by the state.
The city still has the authority to enforce its zoning laws, the development services director clarified. So, if a property is zoned commercial, then the food trucks can set up and all they need is a state permit, but, in a residential neighborhood, that is not a permitted use.
Glaiser noted that Hays County is getting ready for the major change, as officials can no longer permit food trucks through the health department, but they will be out to ensure that everyone has their state permit.
Council member Chris Sheffield asked if health code violations can still be enforced.
They can still be investigated by the county or city officials, but the state permit still needs to be displayed at the food truck and if that is not visible, then it needs to be reported to the state, Glaiser responded.
City council unanimously approved both zoning changes in order for the city of Wimberley to be in compliance with state law.
Short-term rentals
Additionally, council unanimously approved an extension of a current temporary moratorium that is in effect. This puts a pause on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for STRs that require a conditional use permit (CUP) in order to give the city more time to evaluate existing regulations, assess impacts on neighborhoods and consider potential amendments to the code of ordinances.
The moratorium was initially approved in November 2025 for 120 days and then, a subsequent extension was approved in March 2026 for 90 days to remain in effect until July 4.
Now, an additional extension for 90 days was brought to the table to provide further time for review, stakeholder input and the development of recommended regulatory updates.
Council member David Cohen asked if there is a backlog of any applicants wanting CUPs because they have not been able to get them during the moratorium.
There is not, Glaiser responded, but there have been some inquiries from mostly realtors who are wanting to buy properties in the city of Wimberley and are curious if they will have an opportunity to get a CUP in the future. Additionally, Glaiser said that he has had the opposite, where there have been some who have questioned if they will be able to get a CUP to get their property to go on the market.
“All that is in limbo until we adopt,” Cohen said.
“It is and since you’ve given me the direction to move forward with the changes, I am telling them that this is kind of what you can expect is that yes, your property will probably be able to get a CUP here in the next 90 days,” Glaiser said.
Ultimately, council unanimously approved extending the temporary moratorium for another 90 days.
Along with the moratorium, the city and appointed STR Committee have been working to review the regulations and how it currently manages STR properties. While action on the amendments proposed by the committee — initially brought forth to council May 21 — was back on the agenda, there was no action taken because Glaiser requested for more time for city staff to send the required letters to property owners in, as well as those within 200 feet of, the affected zoning districts.
Wimberley City Council will meet next at 4 p.m. for a budget workshop and 6 p.m. for its regular meeting Thursday, July 16.
