Repeat Violator Strikes: Dallas vs Houston
How do repeat violator strikes rules compare between Dallas, TX and Houston, TX?
Houston has fewer restrictions than Dallas.
Dallas, TX
Dallas County
Dallas Short-Term Rental Ordinance Chapter 42B, adopted 2023 and partly enjoined in litigation, escalates enforcement on repeat-violator hosts: progressive fines, registration suspension, and revocation after multiple substantiated violations within a rolling twelve-month period.
View full Dallas rules →Houston, TX
Harris County
Houston has no formal STR three-strikes registration revocation matrix. Repeat nuisance complaints at a short-term rental are addressed through Chapter 28 building and nuisance enforcement, civil-suit deed-restriction actions, and police habitual-nuisance abatement under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 125.
View full Houston rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Dallas | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Dallas Code Ch. 42B-9 | - |
| Strike window | Rolling twelve months | - |
| Suspension trigger | Three substantiated violations | - |
| Revocation trigger | Four substantiated violations | - |
| Daily fine cap | Up to $2,000 | - |
| Three-strikes matrix | - | Not codified in Houston |
| Primary tool | - | Chapter 28 nuisance enforcement |
| Common-nuisance suit | - | TX CPRC Chapter 125 |
| Deed-restriction route | - | TX LGC Chapter 212 |
| Severity | - | Moderate; case-by-case |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Dallas FAQ
How many violations end my Dallas STR registration?
Three substantiated violations within twelve months trigger suspension, four trigger revocation with a multi-year property ban under Chapter 42B-9. Violations include noise, occupancy, parking, trash, and registration-fraud findings.
Is the Dallas STR ban still being enforced?
Partly. The 2023 residential-zone ban portion was enjoined in 2024 litigation, but registration, taxes, and the repeat-violator strike system in Chapter 42B remain in effect for hosts operating in permitted zones.
Houston FAQ
Does Houston revoke STR registrations after three violations?
Not automatically. The 2024 ordinance allows administrative action but lacks a numbered strike matrix. Repeat violators face escalating Chapter 28 enforcement and civil suits rather than mechanical permit revocation.
Can the City shut down a Houston party-house STR?
Yes. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 125 lets the City Attorney pursue a common-nuisance injunction closing a habitually disorderly property for up to one year following proper notice and hearing.
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