Occupancy Limits: Katy vs Stafford
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Katy, TX and Stafford, TX?
Katy has fewer restrictions than Stafford.
Katy, TX
Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County imposes no STR-specific occupancy limits in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack general police power to regulate STRs under Local Gov't Code Ch. 233. Practical limits derive from International Residential Code bedroom/egress rules and on-site septic system capacity (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality OSSF rules in 30 TAC Ch. 285).
View full Katy rules →Stafford, TX
Fort Bend County
Stafford, Texas does not publish a short-term-rental-specific occupancy cap (e.g., 'two guests per bedroom plus two' or '12 persons total'), and the city has no separately codified STR ordinance posted on its website. Maximum occupancy at a vacation rental in Stafford is therefore set by three sources: (1) the building and life-safety provisions of the International Building Code and International Property Maintenance Code as adopted by Stafford under Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances, which establish minimum square-footage-per-occupant standards and bedroom-egress requirements; (2) Texas Property Code §92.010, which by default limits residential lease occupancy to three adults per bedroom but applies specifically to leases — its application to platform-booked transient stays is unsettled; and (3) the underlying single-family zoning under Chapter 102 of the Code of Ordinances, which restricts a single-family dwelling to use as a single housekeeping unit. Confirm the specific square-footage and bedroom-egress numbers with Code Compliance (281-261-3944) and Planning & Zoning (281-261-3920) before advertising a high guest count.
View full Stafford rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Katy | Stafford |
|---|---|---|
| County STR Ordinance | None | - |
| County Occupancy Cap | Not set | - |
| Authority Limit | Local Gov't Code Ch. 233 | - |
| Septic Sizing | 30 TAC §285.91 (by bedroom) | - |
| City Rules Apply | Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond | - |
| STR-specific occupancy cap | - | None published by Stafford |
| Adopted code | - | International Property Maintenance Code via Ch. 14 Art. III |
| Bedroom minimum | - | 70 sq ft for first occupant; 50 sq ft each additional |
| Habitable room standard | - | Minimum 70 sq ft per occupant |
| Egress | - | Operable emergency escape window/door per sleeping room |
| State default | - | Texas Property Code §92.010 – 3 adults per bedroom |
| Zoning constraint | - | Single-family = one housekeeping unit (Chapter 102) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Katy FAQ
Does Fort Bend County set an occupancy limit for Airbnbs?
No. Unincorporated Fort Bend County has no STR ordinance and no county-imposed guest cap. Limits come from IRC bedroom/egress rules, septic system capacity, and any deed restrictions or HOA covenants on your property.
Do I need an STR permit in unincorporated Fort Bend County?
No. The county does not require STR registration or permits. You must register with the Texas Comptroller for the 6% state HOT and remit the Fort Bend County 7% HOT (effective Oct 1, 2024) for stays under 30 days. Cities within the county set their own STR rules.
Stafford FAQ
How many guests can sleep in a Stafford short-term rental?
Stafford does not publish a short-term-rental-specific occupancy ordinance with a 'two-per-bedroom-plus-two' formula. Maximum sleeping occupancy is set by the International Property Maintenance Code adopted through Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances, which requires each bedroom to contain at least 70 square feet for the first occupant and an additional 50 square feet per additional occupant, plus an operable emergency-escape window or door. Texas Property Code §92.010 sets a default of three adult tenants per bedroom for leases. Living rooms, garages, and sunrooms cannot be marketed as sleeping rooms because they lack code-compliant egress.
Can I host a wedding or large party at a Stafford Airbnb?
Stafford zones most residential land as single-family under Chapter 102 of the Code of Ordinances, which restricts each dwelling to use as a single housekeeping unit. Hosting a wedding, large party, or other commercial event at a vacation rental in a single-family district can be enforced as an unpermitted 'tourist home,' 'rooming house,' or commercial-use violation. Any amplified outdoor sound requires a Sound Permit through the city in advance. Most Stafford subdivisions also have recorded deed restrictions that prohibit commercial events at residences, and those are enforceable by the HOA in district court regardless of city action.
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