4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Hidalgo County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Hidalgo County does NOT issue short-term rental (STR) permits. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 limits county zoning authority over single-family residences in unincorporated areas, so the County cannot require STR registration. Operators must, however, collect the 6% Texas state hotel occupancy tax under Tax Code §156.051 on rentals under 30 days, plus any applicable city HOT inside McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, or other incorporated areas. HB 2127 (2023) preempts certain local employment-related rules but did not establish statewide STR preemption.
Hidalgo County does not impose a county-level hotel occupancy tax or STR registration fee in unincorporated areas. Operators must collect the 6% Texas state hotel occupancy tax (Tax Code Ch. 156). Cities like McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr, Mission, and Weslaco add their own 7% municipal HOT inside city limits.
Texas Tax Code Secs. 352.002-352.003 (County Hotel Occupancy Tax - Authority & Rates)
Sec. 352.002. TAX AUTHORIZED. (a) The commissioners courts of the following counties by the adoption of an order or resolution may impose a tax on a person who, under a lease, concession, permit, right of access, license, contract, or agreement, pays for the use or possession or for the right to the use or possession of a room that is in a hotel, costs $2 or more each day, and is ordinarily use...
Hidalgo County does not regulate short-term rental parking in unincorporated areas. Texas counties have no zoning authority to set off-street parking minimums. State law (Transportation Code §545.302) governs parking on county roads, and cities such as McAllen, Edinburg, and Mission set their own STR parking standards inside city limits.
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;(5) between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of a place on the curb immediately opposite th...
Hidalgo County does not set occupancy limits for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. Texas counties have no zoning authority (Loc. Gov. Code Ch. 232 limits county power to subdivisions and platting). Cities such as McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr, and Mission set their own STR occupancy caps inside city limits.
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 hig...
4 cities in Hidalgo County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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