RuleGrid

Texas · Arlington

Arlington

city Restricted Verified · last verified 2026-07-11

Arlington allows short-term rentals (any residential premises rented for less than 30 consecutive days) ONLY in a narrow set of eligible locations, each of which must hold an annual city permit obtained through ArlingtonPermits.com. Under Ordinances 19-014 and 19-022 (adopted April 23, 2019; permit requirement effective August 1, 2019), STRs are an allowed land use only in the RM-12 (single-family medium density) and RMF-22 (multi-family) zoning districts, all non-residential and mixed-use districts, the specially designated "STR Zone" (a geographically contiguous area extending ~1 mile from Arlington's entertainment hub, bounded on the north by E. Lamar Blvd, west by Center Street, south by E. Abram Street, and east by the southbound SH-360 frontage road — all parcels eligible regardless of zoning), and Planned Developments with a density of 12+ units/acre — so most single-family residential neighborhoods are ineligible. The permit costs a non-refundable $500 per year, and requires $1M per-occurrence liability insurance, a local responsible party, a safety inspection, and capped occupancy (2 per bedroom + 2, max 12). There is no cap on the number of permits and no grandfathering of pre-2019 STRs. Combined lodging tax is 15% (Arlington's 9% Hotel Occupancy Tax plus the state's 6%); platforms like Airbnb contract with the State to remit the state 6%, but no platform has a contract with the City, so operators must register with and pay Arlington's 9% HOT directly.

Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-11 · sources linked below.

Requirements checklist

  • city Short-Term Rental Permit Required
    Fee: $500 / year · Renewal: Annual; permit valid one year, renew via ArlingtonPermits.com; renewal fee $500. · Applies to: Every owner/operator of an STR (any residential premises rented for less than 30 consecutive days) located in an eligible zoning district or the STR Zone; applies equally to owner-occupied and investor-owned STRs. · official page ↗
  • city STR Safety Inspection Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: All short-term rentals prior to permit issuance; Code Compliance inspects for smoke detectors, egress, fire extinguisher, electrical hazards, and posted host rules. · official page ↗
  • city Liability Insurance ($1M per occurrence) Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Must be maintained continuously; failure to provide current insurance may result in permit revocation. · Applies to: All STR operators; must maintain coverage while permit is active; certificate of coverage required at application. · official page ↗
  • city Local Responsible Party Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: Every STR; contact info must be included in the host rules provided to occupants. · official page ↗
  • city City Hotel Occupancy Tax Registration Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: HOT due monthly, submitted before the 20th of the month following collection (quarterly reporting available for small filers); a report must be filed even if no tax is due. · Applies to: All STR operators, including those listing on platforms (e.g., Airbnb) that remit only the state HOT; no platform has a contract with the City. · official page ↗
  • state Statewide STR License Not required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: Texas has no statewide STR license, registration, or preemption framework; STRs are regulated locally. The only state-level lodging obligation is the 6% state Hotel Occupancy Tax. · official page ↗

Taxes

TaxRateAdministered byAirbnb remitsVrbo remits
Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax 6% Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Yes —
Arlington Hotel Occupancy Tax 9% City of Arlington (Treasury/Finance; administration assisted by Avenu Insights & Analytics) No —

Lodging-tax estimator

Estimate the combined transient/lodging tax (~15.0%) on a stay in Arlington. Estimate only — not tax advice.

Operating rules

Primary residence
No
Min stay (nights)
—
Max nights / year
—
Max occupancy
Two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons (e.g., 3-bedroom = 8), never exceeding 12 persons regardless of the size of the STR.
Zoning-restricted
Yes
Cap on licenses
None — no maximum number of STR permits in a neighborhood, census tract, or citywide within the eligible zoning districts/STR Zone.

Grandfathering: None — STRs operating before the Aug 1, 2019 effective date are not grandfathered; all permitting, location, and operational rules apply to existing and new STRs alike. Ord. 19-022 provided only a wind-down grace period to Jan 31, 2020 for owners of STRs registered with the City for HOT before April 23, 2019 who could not obtain a permit (others had to cease by Oct 1, 2019).

Zoning: STRs are an allowed land use ONLY in: the RM-12 (single-family medium density) and RMF-22 (multi-family) zoning districts; all non-residential districts and mixed-use districts; the specially designated STR Zone (a geographically contiguous area extending ~1 mile from Arlington's entertainment hub, bounded on the north by E. Lamar Blvd, west by Center Street, south by E. Abram Street, and east by the southbound SH-360 frontage road — all parcels eligible regardless of zoning); and Planned Developments established at a density of 12+ units/acre. Most single-family residential neighborhoods are ineligible. An STR must be conducted within a residential structure; a new residential structure may not be built in a non-residential district for STR use.

  • STRs allowed in multi-family/apartment units only with documented landlord consent.
  • Permit is owner- and location-specific, non-transferable, and non-assignable; a new permit is required for a new owner or a different location.
  • Property owners' associations (POAs) may separately prohibit STRs via covenants; the City does not examine or enforce POA restrictions.
  • STR defined as any portion of a residential premises used for lodging for less than 30 consecutive days; excludes Bed and Breakfasts as defined in the UDC.

Enforcement

Active enforcement
yes
Fines
Violations of the STR Chapter are misdemeanors, with each day a violation exists a separate offense. Fine up to $500 per offense; up to $2,000 for offenses governing fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation (including dumping of refuse). Over-occupancy subjects the owner/operator to a citation. Permits may be revoked (e.g., more than two citations in a 12-month period, non-compliance with a permit condition after 10-day notice, a knowingly false statement in the application, or insurance lapse), with an administrative appeal process (10-day window; hearing officer may sustain, modify, or rescind).
Notes
The City maintains a public interactive map of all approved STR permits (permittee name, location, issuance date, approved parking spaces). Code Compliance conducts pre-permit safety inspections. Non-eligible addresses are blocked at the application stage ('not in a district eligible for short-term rentals; therefore, you are unable to proceed with the application').

Get change alerts for Arlington

RuleGrid checks Arlington every night. Add your email and we'll alert you the moment a rule changes — free, one email per change, unsubscribe anytime.

By subscribing, you agree to receive RuleGrid change alerts. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Arlington?
Arlington allows short-term rentals (any residential premises rented for less than 30 consecutive days) ONLY in a narrow set of eligible locations, each of which must hold an annual city permit obtained through ArlingtonPermits.com. Under Ordinances 19-014 and 19-022 (adopted April 23, 2019; permit requirement effective August 1, 2019), STRs are an allowed land use only in the RM-12 (single-family medium density) and RMF-22 (multi-family) zoning districts, all non-residential and mixed-use districts, the specially designated "STR Zone" (a geographically contiguous area extending ~1 mile from Arlington's entertainment hub, bounded on the north by E. Lamar Blvd, west by Center Street, south by E. Abram Street, and east by the southbound SH-360 frontage road — all parcels eligible regardless of zoning), and Planned Developments with a density of 12+ units/acre — so most single-family residential neighborhoods are ineligible. The permit costs a non-refundable $500 per year, and requires $1M per-occurrence liability insurance, a local responsible party, a safety inspection, and capped occupancy (2 per bedroom + 2, max 12). There is no cap on the number of permits and no grandfathering of pre-2019 STRs. Combined lodging tax is 15% (Arlington's 9% Hotel Occupancy Tax plus the state's 6%); platforms like Airbnb contract with the State to remit the state 6%, but no platform has a contract with the City, so operators must register with and pay Arlington's 9% HOT directly.
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Arlington?
Yes — Arlington requires: Short-Term Rental Permit; STR Safety Inspection; Liability Insurance ($1M per occurrence). See the requirements checklist for fees, renewal, and official links.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Arlington?
Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%), Arlington Hotel Occupancy Tax (9%) — roughly 15.0% combined. Use the lodging-tax estimator on this page for a specific stay.
Does Airbnb or Vrbo collect the taxes for me in Arlington?
It varies by tax and platform in Arlington — see the "Airbnb remits" / "Vrbo remits" columns in the tax table. Where a platform does not remit, the host registers and remits directly.

Official sources

Related coverage

In Texas · Tarrant County

Nearby Fort Worth · Grapevine

Compare with Austin · San Antonio · Dallas · Houston

Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.