City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Fort Worth, TX
How Fort Worth regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Whole-home STR foreclosed in every residential zoning district (A-#, AR, B, R1, R2, CR, C, D, UR)
- STRs confined to mixed-use, form-based, commercial and industrial districts only
- Zoning-based use exclusion, not a mere cap — supply device on the general housing stock
- Annual registration required plus 9% hotel occupancy tax
- Residential ban upheld by 352nd District Court (Mar 2025); enforced as written
Based on: Zoning Ordinance use table + Code Ch. 25 §25-8(e)(73.478) (registration) and Ch. 32 Art. II §32-21 (HOT); Ordinance No.
Summary of the rule
Short-term rentals are not allowed in residential districts: A-#, AR, B, R1, R2, CR, C, D, UR. STRs are permitted in all mixed-use and most form-based, commercial, and industrial zoning districts.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Active litigation / open question
Fort Worth Short Term Rental Alliance et al. v. City of Fort Worth (114 plaintiffs, filed 2023) — 352nd District Court (Judge Josh Burgess) ruled in favor of the City in March 2025, upholding the zoning-code STR ban in residential areas. Plaintiffs stated intent to appeal; no appellate reversal or injunction found as of Sept 2026. Ban remains in force and enforced. Source ↗
Reported as fact only, reflecting the code as currently in effect — not legal advice, and not a prediction of the outcome. Verify current status before relying on it.
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Fort Worth · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.