City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Waco, TX
How Waco 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.
- residential-zone exclusion for non-owner-occupied whole-home STR (Type II) in single-family districts effective 2021-06-15
- existing STR Type II licenses in those zones grandfathered but no new by-right/special-permit path
- owner-occupied categories (BBHE, STR Type I) still permitted by special permit in same residential zones
- Type II/III still permitted by special permit in denser residential, office, and commercial zones
Based on: Code of Ordinances Ch. 13 §§13-470–13-471 (Bed & Breakfast Facilities & STR Facilities); zoning amendment effective
Summary of the rule
As of June 15, 2021, Short Term Rental Type II (non-owner-occupied whole-home/single-family or duplex rental) is no longer allowed by special permit in zoning districts R-E, R-1A, R-1B, and R-1C.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 15, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Waco · system last checked Oct 25, 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.