Richardson's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Richardson, Texas, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Short-term rental guests must comply with Richardson's general parking ordinances under Ch. 13, Art. I. On-street parking is subject to the same rules as all residents, including restrictions on RV parking and front yard parking prohibitions.

Key details: Code Section: Ch. 13, Sec. 13-1. Front Yard Parking: Prohibited on grass. On-Street: Standard city rules apply. RV Parking: Permit required (max 2 weeks).

Parking violations result in citations and fines. Vehicles parked on unapproved surfaces or in violation of RV rules may be towed.

Richardson is more permissive than most cities when it comes to short-term rental parking rules. That said, there are still limits.

Taxes & Fees

Richardson requires every short-term rental owner to collect and remit hotel occupancy tax under Chapter 12 of the city code, and to provide the director or finance department a guest and tax accounting within 30 days of a request, even when a listing platform collects the tax.

Key details: Tax duty holder: STR owner, even if platform collects it. Accounting deadline: 30 days of director/finance request. Governing tax chapter: Ch. 12, Art. II (Hotel Occupancy Tax). Revocation ground: Failure to remit tax, Sec. 6-517(a)(5).

Failing to remit hotel occupancy tax as required is grounds for the director to revoke the STR's registration certificate under Sec. 6-517(a)(5), on top of being an independent offense: Sec. 6-520(h) makes it unlawful for an owner to fail to pay hotel occupancy taxes required under state law and Chapter 12, Article II, and Sec. 6-520(i) separately makes it unlawful to fail to provide the required 30-day guest and tax accounting after a director request. Violations are Class C misdemeanors carrying a fine up to $500.00 per offense under Sec. 6-521(a), with each day a separate offense.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Richardson requires a valid short-term rental registration certificate before any STR can operate, with a separate certificate for each individual unit. Certificates are nontransferable, expire December 31 each year, and can be denied or revoked at the city's discretion.

Key details: Registration required: Yes, one per unit, nontransferable. Application review period: 30 days. Certificate expiration: December 31 each year. Max penalty per offense: $500.00 fine, Class C misdemeanor. Post-revocation ineligibility: 1 year.

Operating an STR without a valid registration certificate is a Class C misdemeanor under Sec. 6-520(a), punishable under Sec. 6-521(a) by a fine up to $500.00 per offense, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The director may revoke a certificate under Sec. 6-517 for two or more code violations at the property within 12 months, a false statement in the application, failure to update information within 72 hours, failure to remit hotel occupancy tax, or failure to keep a compliant local responsible party. Revocation bars a new registration for that premises for one year, and an owner may appeal a revocation first to the director under Sec. 6-518, then to the city manager under Sec. 6-519.

This is one of the stricter rules in Richardson's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Noise Rules

Richardson bars short-term rental guests and owners from making noise that violates the city's noise ordinance, and ties habitual noise complaints directly to STR registration revocation. Two or more noise-related convictions at an STR within 12 months count as a habitual nuisance, letting the director pull the property's registration for a full year.

Key details: Fine per offense: Up to $500.00, Class C misdemeanor. Continuing violation: Each day is a separate offense. Revocation trigger: 2+ noise convictions in 12 months. Post-revocation ban: 1 year, tied to the premises. Appeal window: 10 business days to the director.

A first noise complaint against an STR is enforced as a Class C misdemeanor under section 6-521(a): a fine up to $500.00 per day, with each day of continuing noise a separate offense. The bigger risk is registration loss: two or more noise-related convictions at the property within 12 months count as a habitual nuisance under section 6-517(a)(1), letting the director revoke the certificate. A revoked property cannot re-register for a full year under section 6-517(c).

This is one of the stricter rules in Richardson's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Richardson is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Richardson, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Richardson's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.