5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in Fort Bend County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Fort Bend County does NOT require a short-term rental (STR) permit or registration in unincorporated areas — the county has not adopted zoning and has no STR ordinance. However, Fort Bend County did adopt a county Hotel Occupancy Tax effective October 1, 2024 under Texas Tax Code Chapter 352: 7% outside city limits and 2% inside city limits, in addition to the 6% state HOT under Tax Code §156.051. Full enforcement began May 1, 2025, with monthly returns due to Avenu (HotelTaxOnline.com) by the 15th. STRs inside Fort Bend County cities (Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Richmond, Rosenberg, Katy, Fulshear, Meadows Place) must follow that city's STR rules.
Fort Bend County has no STR-specific noise ordinance in unincorporated areas. Enforcement falls under Texas Penal Code §42.01(a)(5) disorderly conduct (unreasonable noise), with noise above 85 decibels presumptively unreasonable per §42.01(c)(2). The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office responds to nuisance noise calls at vacation rentals.
Tex. Penal Code § 42.01 (Disorderly Conduct)
DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly: ... (5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy; ... (c) For purposes of this section: ... (2) a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds...
Fort Bend County imposes a Hotel Occupancy Tax on short-term rentals under 30 days, with full enforcement beginning May 1, 2025 for all bookings.
Fort Bend County Auditor — Hotel Occupancy Tax
Beginning October 1, 2024, Fort Bend County, TX imposed a Hotel Occupancy Tax to fund tourism-related initiatives and to generate economic activity within the County. To assist the County’s staff in the collection of this Hotel Occupancy Tax, the County has selected Avenu Insights & Analytics as a partner. When is the tax due? County taxes are due monthly by the 15th day of the month for the pr...
Fort Bend County does not regulate STR parking in unincorporated areas. The county has not adopted zoning and does not impose minimum off-street parking requirements for vacation rentals. Texas Local Gov't Code Ch. 233 limits county zoning authority outside city ETJs.
Tex. Transp. Code Sec. 545.302 (Stopping, Standing, or Parking Prohibited in Certain Places)
Sec. 545.302. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PLACES. (a) An operator may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle: (1) on the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street; (2) on a sidewalk; (3) in an intersection; (4) on a crosswalk... (b) An operator may not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger, stand or park an occupied or uno...
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).
Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.010 (Occupancy Limits)
Sec. 92.010. OCCUPANCY LIMITS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the maximum number of adults that a landlord may allow to occupy a dwelling is three times the number of bedrooms in the dwelling. (b) A landlord may allow an occupancy rate of more than three adult tenants per bedroom: (1) to the extent that the landlord is required by a state or federal fair housing law to allow a higher...
7 cities in Fort Bend County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
6 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
5 verified rules • Noise Rules, Occupancy Limits
5 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
4 verified rules • Noise Rules, Parking Rules
5 verified rules • Noise Rules, Occupancy Limits
5 verified rules • Noise Rules, Occupancy Limits
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