Corpus Christi

Operating rules

Primary residence

No

Min stay (nights)

—

Max nights / year

—

Max occupancy

Applicants must declare a maximum guest capacity in the registration; no single citywide numeric occupancy cap identified in official sources.

Zoning-restricted

Yes

Cap on licenses

Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) STRs capped at 15% of the block face; no citywide numeric permit cap identified.

Zoning: Type 1 (owner-occupied) STRs are allowed throughout the city with no restrictions except on Padre/Mustang Island. Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) STRs are limited to 15% of the block face on a first-come, first-served basis. STRs are not permitted in single-family zoning districts within the Padre/Mustang Island Area Development Plan (ADP); multi-family and commercial zones there remain eligible.

• STR defined as a property that rents out all or a portion of a residential dwelling unit for a period of less than 30 days and not less than 12 hours.
• Type 1 = owner/operator's primary residence; Type 2 = not the owner/operator's primary residence.
• Ordinance adopted June 28, 2022, amending the Unified Development Code; applications accepted beginning July 11, 2022.

Enforcement

Active enforcement

yes

Fines

STR violations are handled by City Code Enforcement; operators must display the permit number on advertisements. Specific STR-violation fine dollar amounts were not stated verbatim on the official STR page. Late HOT payment incurs a 15% penalty on the tax due, plus interest at prime rate plus 1% on amounts delinquent over 60 days.

Notes

The City began enforcing the STR ordinance following its June 28, 2022 adoption (applications opened July 11, 2022). Complaints are directed to Code Enforcement at (361) 226-7030, 311, or STRComplaints@CorpusChristiTX.gov, or via the Code Enforcement Online Self-Service Center.