10 verified short-term rentals rules for Rowlett, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rowlett requires an annual short-term rental permit before any STR is occupied or advertised. The rules live in the Rental Housing article (Ord. No. 007-23), Division 4, Sec. 10-425. No permit, no listing, no guests, and the permit is not transferable.
Rowlett STRs must comply with the city's noise restrictions: Sec. 10-427(c) bars any violation of city noise rules, and the guest safety sheet sets quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday. A local contact must respond to complaints within 30 minutes.
Rowlett STRs pay a city hotel occupancy tax of 7% on room receipts, remitted quarterly directly to the city (booking platforms do not collect Rowlett's local tax). The annual STR permit fee is $2,000 per property. Texas state HOT of 6% applies on top.
Rowlett limits STR guest parking to four vehicles within the garage and driveway, on improved surfaces, with no on-street parking for guests. The rule is in Sec. 10-427(a), and a parking plan must be filed with the permit application.
Rowlett caps STR occupancy by a formula: two persons per bedroom plus two more, but never more than 12 persons total including children, regardless of bedroom count. The cap is defined as the 'maximum occupancy rate' in Sec. 10-401 and enforced under Sec. 10-427.
Rowlett requires STR owners to carry host-protection or comparable liability insurance of up to $1 million per occurrence, with a certificate of insurance on file and proof at application; cancellation must be reported within 30 days. The codified ordinance also mandates working smoke, CO, and fire-extinguisher safety equipment.
Rowlett does NOT cap the number of nights or days an STR may be rented per year. The defining threshold is the 30-day rental period: any stay under 30 consecutive days is a short-term rental. There is no annual booking-night limit in the ordinance.
Rowlett's STR registration runs through Sec. 10-425. Owners file a city application with a floor plan, parking plan, and evacuation plan, notify neighbors within 200 feet, pass inspection, and include the permit number in every listing. Permits renew annually and expire January 31.
Rowlett does not require the host to be physically present, but Sec. 10-427(b) requires a designated 24-hour local point of contact who must respond to complaints within 30 minutes or less. The contact's name, address, and phone go on the application and the posted guest safety sheet.
Rowlett does NOT require an STR to be the owner's primary residence. Non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed and permitted. The ordinance only distinguishes owner-occupied homes for a narrow on-street parking allowance (Sec. 10-427(a)).
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rowlett city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Dallas County →