Permit Requirements: Fort Worth vs North Richland Hills
How do permit requirements rules compare between Fort Worth, TX and North Richland Hills, TX?
Fort Worth and North Richland Hills have similar restriction levels.
Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Fort Worth requires every short-term rental to be registered with the City under Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Article XIII (Short-Term Rental Registration), adopted February 14, 2023. Initial registration is $150 with a $100 annual renewal. STRs are prohibited in residential zoning districts and only permitted in mixed-use, form-based, commercial, and industrial zones. Operating in a residential zone is a citable Class C misdemeanor.
View full Fort Worth rules →North Richland Hills, TX
Tarrant County
North Richland Hills generally does not allow short-term rentals as a permitted use in single-family residential zoning districts. STR-style operation of entire dwellings is treated as commercial lodging and requires specific use permit or PD approval. The city is actively monitoring STR activity and enforces zoning violations.
View full North Richland Hills rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fort Worth | North Richland Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | Fort Worth Code Ch. 7, Article XIII (Ord. No. 26005-02-2023) | - |
| Initial Registration Fee | $150 | - |
| Annual Renewal Fee | $100 | - |
| Definition | Residential rental of 1 to 29 consecutive days | - |
| Residential Zoning | STRs prohibited in A-#, AR, B, R1, R2, CR, C, D, UR districts | - |
| Allowed Zoning | Mixed-use, form-based, commercial, and industrial districts only | - |
| Hotel Occupancy Tax | 9% city + 6% state on every booking | - |
| Penalties | Class C misdemeanor; up to $2,000/day for health/safety/zoning | - |
| Whole House STR | - | Not allowed in R districts |
| Permit Path | - | Specific use permit |
| City HOT Tax | - | 7% |
| State HOT Tax | - | 6% |
| Long Term | - | 30+ days allowed |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fort Worth FAQ
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Fort Worth?
Yes. Fort Worth requires every short-term rental (a rental of 1 to 29 consecutive days) to be registered with the City under Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Article XIII. Initial registration is $150, annual renewal is $100, and the registration must be renewed each year. Operators must also confirm that the property's zoning allows short-term rental use, since residential districts are off-limits under the Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance.
Can I run an Airbnb in a Fort Worth residential neighborhood?
No. Fort Worth's Zoning Ordinance and Chapter 7, Article XIII prohibit short-term rentals in residential zoning districts (including A-#, AR, B, R1, R2, CR, C, D, and UR). STRs are only permitted by right in mixed-use, form-based, commercial, and industrial districts. The residential ban was upheld by a Texas state district court in 2024. Operating an STR in a residential district is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $2,000 per day.
How much does Fort Worth STR registration cost and what taxes apply?
The initial Short-Term Rental Registration fee is $150 and the annual renewal is $100. In addition, operators must collect and remit the City of Fort Worth 9% Hotel Occupancy Tax and the State of Texas 6% Hotel Occupancy Tax on every booking. Marketplace facilitators such as Airbnb may collect some of these taxes; operators are responsible for verifying coverage and remitting any uncollected portion directly.
North Richland Hills FAQ
Can I run an Airbnb in NRH?
Generally no for whole-house nightly rentals in standard single-family districts without a specific use permit. Owner-occupied room rentals and stays over 30 days may be allowed.
Do I have to collect hotel tax?
Yes. Operating STRs must collect both the 7% NRH hotel occupancy tax and the 6% Texas state tax on stays under 30 days.
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