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Short-Term Rentals in Lubbock, TX (2026)

9 verified short-term rentals rules for Lubbock, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Lubbock has no dedicated STR permit, but operators must register for Hotel Occupancy Tax with the city and state, and comply with residential zoning and building codes.

Short Term Rentals: Permit Requirements

Light Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code Sec. 351.002

Sec. 351.002. TAX AUTHORIZED. (a) A municipality by ordinance may impose a tax on a person who, under a lease, concession, permit, right of access, license, contract, or agreement, pays for the use or possession or for the right to the use or possession of a room that is in a hotel, costs $2 or more each day, and is ordinarily used for sleeping.(b) The price of a room in a hotel does not in...

Noise Rules

Lubbock STRs follow the citywide noise ordinance under Chapter 16, with quiet hours typically 10 PM to 7 AM. Hosts are responsible for guest conduct and face escalating citations.

Short Term Rentals: Noise Rules

Light Restrictions

Tex. Penal Code Sec. 42.01

Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:(1) uses abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;(2) makes an offensive gesture or display in a public place, and the gesture or display tends to incite an immediate breach of the p...

Taxes & Fees

Lubbock STRs under 30 days owe a combined 13 percent HOT: 7 percent city plus 6 percent state. Airbnb auto-collects state HOT; city HOT collection varies by platform.

Short Term Rentals: Taxes Fees

Some Restrictions

Texas Comptroller — Hotel Occupancy Tax (Rates, Due Date, Penalties)

Hotel owners, operators or managers must collect state hotel occupancy tax from their guests who rent a room or space in a hotel costing $15 or more each day. The tax applies not only to hotels and motels, but also to bed and breakfasts, condominiums, apartments and houses. Local hotel taxes apply to sleeping rooms costing $2 or more each day. With the numerous sporting and entertainment events...

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Lubbock STRs follow residential parking rules. Vehicles must park on improved driveways or legally on-street, and cannot block sidewalks, hydrants, or driveways.

Short Term Rentals: Parking Rules

Few Restrictions

Tex. Transp. Code Sec. 545.302

Sec. 545.302. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PLACES. (a) An operator may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle:(1) on the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;(2) on a sidewalk;(3) in an intersection;(4) on a crosswalk; ... (b) An operator may not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger, stand or park an occupied ...

Occupancy Limits

Lubbock has no STR-specific occupancy cap, but IPMC limits occupants by bedroom area (70 sq ft first, 50 each added) and fire code requires egress and smoke alarms.

Short Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits

Light Restrictions

Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.010

Sec. 92.010. OCCUPANCY LIMITS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the maximum number of adults that a landlord may allow to occupy a dwelling is three times the number of bedrooms in the dwelling. (b) A landlord may allow an occupancy rate of more than three adult tenants per bedroom: (1) to the extent that the landlord is required by a state or federal fair housing law to allow a higher...

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Lubbock zoning caps where a short-term rental can legally operate: under Unified Development Code Section 39.02.018(c)(6)(B), the use may only occur inside a legal accessory dwelling unit or within the operator's primary residence, shutting the door on stand-alone, investor-only rental houses citywide.

Lubbock Short-Term Rentals Limited to Primary Residences

Significant Restrictions

Lubbock Unified Development Code § 39.02.018(c)(6)(B)

B. Accommodations. The use shall only occur in: i. A legal accessory dwelling unit; or ii. Within a primary residence.

Extended Home Share

Lubbock allows extended home-sharing arrangements where operators rent rooms or whole homes for stays longer than a typical weekend, including game-day and Texas Tech parent visits, without special permits beyond hotel occupancy tax registration.

Extended Home-Sharing Permitted in Lubbock

Few Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code Sec. 156.001 (Hotel Occupancy Tax - Definition Includes Short-Term Rentals)

Sec. 156.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter, "hotel" means a building in which members of the public obtain sleeping accommodations for consideration. The term includes a hotel, motel, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn, rooming house, or bed and breakfast. The term does not include:(1) a hospital, sanitarium, or nursing home;(2) a dormitory or other housing facil...

Repeat Violator Strikes

Lubbock's Unified Development Code lets the Director of Planning deny or revoke a Short-Term Rental Permit for a history of noncompliance, not just a single violation. Operators get written notice, a stated reason and a right to appeal to the Permit and License Appeals Board.

Lubbock STR Permit Revoked for Repeat Violations

Significant Restrictions

Lubbock Unified Development Code § 39.07.029(f)

Notice of denial or revocation. 1. Permit denial. The Director of Planning may determine that a permit required under this Section should be denied or revoked for the reasons set forth below. The Director of Planning shall provide written notice of the denial or revocation of a permit to the applicant, detailing the reason for the denial or revocation of the permit, and a statement informing th...

Host Platform Liability

Lubbock imposes no direct ordinance liability on Airbnb, VRBO, or other platforms for hosting non-compliant listings. Texas state law and federal Section 230 limit any future Lubbock platform-liability rule.

No Platform Liability Ordinance for Airbnb in Lubbock

Few Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code Sec. 156.001 (Hotel Occupancy Tax - Definition Includes Short-Term Rentals)

Sec. 156.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter, "hotel" means a building in which members of the public obtain sleeping accommodations for consideration. The term includes a hotel, motel, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn, rooming house, or bed and breakfast. The term does not include:(1) a hospital, sanitarium, or nursing home;(2) a dormitory or other housing facil...

Looking for Lubbock County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lubbock city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Lubbock County