RuleGridTexas · Fort Worth
Fort Worth
Fort Worth allows short-term rentals (rentals of 1 to 29 consecutive days) only in mixed-use, most form-based, commercial, and industrial zoning districts; STRs are PROHIBITED in all residential districts (A-#, AR, B, R1, R2, CR, C, D, UR), which covers the majority of the city. The residential-zone prohibition traces to the city's zoning amendments (originating around 2018) and was reinforced by the 2023 registration ordinance (No. 26005-02-2023). A legal STR must register with the city via Localgov (initial $150, $100 annual renewal), upload a passing Zoning Confirmation, and register to collect/remit both the City Hotel Occupancy Tax (9%: 7% municipal HOT + 2% venue/convention tax) and the 6% State HOT administered by the Texas Comptroller under Tex. Tax Code ch. 156. There is no grandfathering for STRs in prohibited residential zones. LITIGATION RESOLVED AT THE APPELLATE LEVEL IN THE CITY'S FAVOR: after the 352nd District Court (Judge Josh Burgess) ruled for the city in March 2025, the Court of Appeals of Texas, Second District (Modern Builders LLC v. City of Fort Worth, No. 02-25-00275-CV) AFFIRMED the city's STR zoning restrictions on May 28, 2026, holding owners have no vested right to lease short-term and the ordinances are rationally related to preserving single-family neighborhood character.
Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-11 · sources linked below.
Requirements checklist
-
city Short-Term Rental Registration Required
-
city Zoning Confirmation Required
-
city City Hotel Occupancy Tax Registration (Localgov) Required
-
state Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax Registration Required
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Administered by | Airbnb remits | Vrbo remits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax | 6% | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | — | — |
| City of Fort Worth Hotel Occupancy Tax | 9% | City of Fort Worth (filed/paid via Localgov) | — | — |
Lodging-tax estimator
Estimate the combined transient/lodging tax (~15.0%) on a stay in Fort Worth. Estimate only — not tax advice.
Operating rules
- Primary residence
- No
- Min stay (nights)
- —
- Max nights / year
- —
- Max occupancy
- Reported as no more than 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons, up to a maximum of 12 occupants (WFAA/news coverage of the ordinance; not quote-verified against directly-loaded official ordinance text).
- Zoning-restricted
- Yes
- Cap on licenses
- —
Grandfathering: No grandfathering for STRs in prohibited residential districts; the appellate court held pre-2018 operators had no 'settled and reasonable expectations' to continue and no vested right to lease short-term.
Zoning: STRs allowed in mixed-use and most form-based, commercial, and industrial zoning districts. Prohibited in residential districts: A-#, AR, B, R1, R2, CR, C, D, UR. Owners in prohibited zones may apply for a zoning change to Planned Development (PD), not guaranteed.
- STR defined as rental for 1 to 29 consecutive days; month-to-month primary-residence tenancy and hotels/motels/B&Bs are excluded.
- A local responsible party must be designated (news sources: available while guests stay and able to reach the property within an hour).
- Current registration confirmation must be prominently displayed in the property; registration is not transferrable.
- Litigation RESOLVED at the appellate level for the city: Court of Appeals of Texas, Second District, Modern Builders LLC v. City of Fort Worth, No. 02-25-00275-CV, AFFIRMED the STR zoning ban on May 28, 2026, following the 352nd District Court's March 2025 judgment for the city. Any further review would require the Texas Supreme Court; none confirmed as of this record's date.
Enforcement
- Active enforcement
- yes
- Fines
- Violations of the STR ordinance can result in fines and registration revocation; reported at up to $2,000 per day/offense (secondary sources). $2,000 is consistent with the Texas statutory maximum for municipal ordinances governing zoning/public health-safety (Tex. Local Gov't Code), but the specific STR-ordinance penalty amount was not confirmed via a directly-loaded official quote.
- Notes
- Enforced by the City's Code Compliance Department and Central Revenue Office. The city has actively pursued and prevailed in enforcement of its zoning ban, affirmed on appeal May 28, 2026. Registration and HOT filing moved to the Localgov platform (reported mandatory effective Jan. 5, 2024).
Get change alerts for Fort Worth
RuleGrid checks Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth?
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Fort Worth?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Fort Worth?
Official sources
- official_program_page Short-Term Rentals (STR) – City of Fort Worth ↗
- official_tax_page Hotel Occupancy Tax System (Localgov) – City of Fort Worth ↗
- official_ordinance_pdf Ordinance No. 26005-02-2023 (STR Registration) ↗
- official_state_tax Texas Comptroller – Hotel Occupancy Tax ↗
- codified_ordinance Fort Worth Code of Ordinances, Ch. 7, Art. XIII: Short-Term Rental Registration (Ord. 26005-02-2023) ↗
- census_geocoder U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder – Fort Worth GEOIDs ↗
- caselaw Modern Builders LLC v. City of Fort Worth, No. 02-25-00275-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth, May 28, 2026) – STR ban affirmed ↗
- news Court rules Fort Worth can keep banning short-term rentals in residential areas (Mar. 2025 trial court) ↗
- industry_reference New Fort Worth STR ordinance requires hosts to get city permit (Avalara MyLodgeTax) ↗
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.