Extended Home Share: Chicago vs Houston
How do extended home share rules compare between Chicago, IL and Houston, TX?
Houston has fewer restrictions than Chicago.
Chicago, IL
Cook County
Unlike Los Angeles, Chicago does not offer an Extended Home-Share permit that lifts annual nightly caps; hosts choose between the standard Shared Housing registration or the higher-tier Vacation Rental license under MCC 4-6-300 with stricter rules.
View full Chicago rules →Houston, TX
Harris County
Houston's STR ordinance does not create a tiered extended home-share license for stays of 30+ days or longer-term home-sharing arrangements. Stays beyond 29 nights generally fall outside hotel occupancy tax and STR registration, and are treated as residential leases under Texas Property Code Chapter 92.
View full Houston rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chicago | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Tiers available | Shared Housing or Vacation Rental | - |
| Extended permit option | Not offered in Chicago | - |
| Code chapters | MCC 4-13, 4-14, 4-6-300 | - |
| Regulator | BACP Department | - |
| Nightly cap escape | Vacation Rental license required | - |
| Extended home-share tier | - | Not in Houston ordinance |
| 30-day threshold | - | TX Tax Code Chapter 156 |
| Long stays | - | Become residential leases |
| Authority | - | TX Property Code Chapter 92 |
| Severity | - | Permissive — no tier exists |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chicago FAQ
Can I exceed the Shared Housing nightly cap by paying more?
No. Chicago has no Extended Home-Share fee tier. To rent beyond the cap, you must qualify for and obtain a Vacation Rental license under MCC 4-6-300 with stricter rules.
Why does Chicago lack an Extended Home-Share program?
City policy steers high-volume hosts into the Vacation Rental category for inspection and tax oversight, rather than granting an unconditional cap waiver to primary-residence Shared Housing operators.
Houston FAQ
Does Houston have a separate license for 30+ day rentals?
No. Houston's STR ordinance does not create an extended home-share tier. Stays of 30 or more consecutive days become residential leases under Texas Property Code Chapter 92, not transient rentals.
Do I owe hotel occupancy tax on a six-week booking?
No. Texas Tax Code Section 156.101 exempts permanent residents staying 30 or more consecutive days. Houston's local hotel occupancy tax follows the same exemption, and landlord-tenant law applies.
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