Primary-Residence-Only Rule: Dallas vs Houston
How do primary-residence-only rule rules compare between Dallas, TX and Houston, TX?
Houston has fewer restrictions than Dallas.
Dallas, TX
Dallas County
Dallas Chapter 42B (2023) restricts short-term rentals to multifamily and mixed-use zoning districts and frames lawful single-family STRs as accessory to a primary residence. A 2024 Dallas County district-court injunction paused the residential-zone prohibition while the legal challenge proceeds.
View full Dallas rules →Houston, TX
Harris County
Houston's 2024 short-term rental ordinance does not restrict STRs to operators' primary residences. Investor-owned whole-home rentals remain lawful citywide, subject to registration and hotel occupancy tax. Deed restrictions in many subdivisions independently prohibit transient rental use.
View full Houston rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Dallas | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinance | Dallas Ch. 42B (June 2023) | - |
| Zoning rule | Multifamily and mixed-use only | - |
| Court order | May 2024 injunction halts ban | - |
| Status | City appeal pending | - |
| Registration | Still required citywide | - |
| Primary-residence rule | - | Not imposed by Houston |
| Investor STRs | - | Allowed citywide if registered |
| Deed restrictions | - | Primary practical limit |
| Tax requirement | - | Hotel occupancy tax due |
| Severity | - | Permissive municipally |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Dallas FAQ
Can I run a single-family-home STR in Dallas right now?
Yes, currently. A May 2024 district-court injunction blocks Dallas from enforcing the residential-zone STR ban while the appeal is pending. Registration, occupancy, and safety rules still apply.
Is Chapter 42B a strict primary-residence-only rule?
Not literally. It restricts STRs by zone rather than by primary residency, but functionally pushes whole-home use toward owner-occupied homes. Enforcement is paused by court order pending appeal.
Houston FAQ
Must my Houston STR be my primary residence?
No. The 2024 ordinance allows investor-owned whole-home rentals if the operator registers and remits hotel occupancy tax. Deed restrictions on the parcel may still independently prohibit transient use.
Why do some Houston neighborhoods still ban STRs?
Private deed restrictions recorded against subdivision plats often prohibit transient or hotel-style rentals. The City enforces those restrictions in district court under Local Government Code Chapter 212.
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