Arlington ADUs may be rented long-term (30+ days) provided owner occupancy continues under the typical SUP condition. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are heavily restricted under Arlington City Code Chapter 7.5 (the 2019 STR ordinance), with single-family districts limited to one designated STR per block face and registration required. ADUs operated as STRs face strict registration, parking, and notification rules.
Long-term rental (30 days or more) of an ADU is permitted in Arlington provided the property owner continues to occupy either the principal dwelling or the ADU as required by the Specific Use Permit condition under UDC Article 4 and the recorded deed restriction. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are regulated under Arlington City Code Chapter 7.5, the Short-Term Rental Ordinance adopted in 2019 and revised in 2023. The ordinance requires every STR to: register annually with the city ($350 fee), maintain a local responsible party available 24/7, post an exterior emergency contact placard, satisfy fire and safety inspection, and provide minimum parking. In single-family residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, RS), STRs are limited to one per block face under the dispersal rule, and new permits in oversaturated areas may be denied. STRs near Globe Life Field, AT&T Stadium, and the Entertainment District are more readily approved because the area is zoned for mixed-use/tourism. ADUs typically cannot be the standalone STR unless the property's SUP specifically authorizes ADU short-term rental β most ADU SUPs limit use to long-term residential. Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) of 9% applies to all STR stays under 30 days. Texas state law has not preempted Arlington's STR registration regime.
Operating an unregistered STR carries fines up to $500 per day under Texas Local Government Code Β§ 54.001 and is a Class C misdemeanor. Arlington contracts with Granicus to monitor Airbnb/VRBO listings. STRs near AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field receive heightened enforcement attention.
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