Host Presence Rule: Dallas vs Fort Worth
How do host presence rule rules compare between Dallas, TX and Fort Worth, TX?
Dallas and Fort Worth have similar restriction levels.
Dallas, TX
Dallas County
Dallas Chapter 42B (2023) requires STR registration and frames lawful operation around the property's primary-residence character, but does not impose a hosted-only requirement directing the owner to remain physically on-site during guest stays. Enforcement is partly enjoined pending litigation.
View full Dallas rules →Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Fort Worth's 2023 short-term rental ordinance requires registration and operating standards but does not impose a hosted-only presence rule. Operators need not stay on-site during stays; instead the ordinance limits STRs through zoning and primary-residence framing.
View full Fort Worth rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Dallas | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinance | Dallas City Code Ch. 42B | Fort Worth STR Ord. (2023) |
| Adopted | June 2023; partly enjoined | - |
| Hosted-only rule | Not imposed by Chapter 42B | Not imposed |
| Framing | Primary-residence and zoning based | - |
| Litigation | Zoning ban currently enjoined | - |
| Registration | - | Required citywide |
| Local contact | - | 24-hour responsible party |
| Hotel occupancy tax | - | Required remittance |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Dallas FAQ
Must a Dallas STR host stay on-site while guests are present?
No. Chapter 42B does not mandate physical presence during a booking. It instead relies on registration, primary-residence framing, and zoning rules to constrain STR operations citywide.
Has the Chapter 42B framework been changed by litigation?
Yes. A Dallas County district court enjoined the residential-zone prohibition in 2024. Registration and life-safety provisions remain enforceable while the appeal proceeds.
Fort Worth FAQ
Must a Fort Worth STR host stay on-site during guest stays?
No. The Fort Worth ordinance does not mandate physical host presence during a booking. Operators must instead register, designate a 24-hour local contact, meet life-safety rules, and comply with zoning and occupancy caps.
Who do guests or neighbors call for STR problems?
Operators must designate a 24-hour local responsible-party contact whose phone number is posted with the listing and provided to adjacent neighbors. Neighbors can also call MyFW or 311 to report violations to Code Compliance.
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