City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Houston, TX
How Houston regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- Citywide STR certificate of registration required — the director shall approve a complete, compliant application (ministerial process, Ord. 2025-322)
- Whole-home / non-owner-occupied rental permitted by-right; no cap, no primary-residence or host-present requirement
- Houston has no zoning, so no residential-zone exclusion applies
- City hotel occupancy tax applies to STR stays
Based on: Code of Ordinances, Houston, TX, Ch. 28, Art. XXIII (Secs. 28-721 through 28-743), Ordinance No. 2025-322, adopted
Summary of the rule
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, rent, lease, or advertise a short-term rental within the city limits without a valid certificate of registration as provided in this article.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 15, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Houston · system last checked Nov 9, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
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.