Dallas

Operating rules

Primary residence

—

Min stay (nights)

—

Max nights / year

—

Max occupancy

—

Zoning-restricted

Yes

Cap on licenses

—

Zoning: The June 2023 ordinance would prohibit short-term rentals in single-family residential zoning districts by excluding STR lodging as a permitted use, but enforcement is blocked by a temporary injunction (Dec 6, 2023), affirmed by the Fifth District Court of Appeals (July 18, 2025, No. 05-23-01309-CV). As of July 2026 the zoning ban is NOT enforced pending the Texas Supreme Court case; STRs may currently operate in single-family zones.

• A short-term rental is defined (Dallas City Code) as a full or partial rentable unit rented to occupants for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
• The City continues to enforce pre-existing ordinances on minimum property standards, disturbing noises, and private nuisances regardless of the STR-ordinance injunction.
• Texas has no statewide STR license or registration; STRs are regulated locally. No statewide STR-preemption law was verified to be in effect that overrides Dallas's regime.
• Litigation is ongoing: City of Dallas v. Dallas Short-Term Rental Alliance; the City petitioned the Texas Supreme Court on Oct 16, 2025 seeking to enforce the ban ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup; no final SCOTX ruling as of July 2026.

Enforcement

Active enforcement

yes

Fines

The 2023 STR registration and single-family-zoning ban ordinances are not currently enforceable due to the December 6, 2023 temporary injunction (affirmed on appeal July 18, 2025). The City continues to enforce pre-existing minimum property standards, disturbing-noise, and private-nuisance ordinances, plus Hotel Occupancy Tax collection (non-payment can result in tax liabilities, fines, penalties, and interest; late HOT payment carries a 15% penalty and 10% annual interest per the City schedule). Specific STR-ordinance fine amounts could not be verified from an official page and are not asserted here.

Notes

Active enforcement is limited to HOT collection and existing property/noise/nuisance rules while the STR-specific ban and registration scheme remain enjoined. The City is actively litigating (Texas Supreme Court, petition filed Oct 16, 2025, pending as of July 2026) to lift the injunction and enforce the ban, motivated in part by the 2026 FIFA World Cup.