Carrollton, TX Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must register
- Every single-family and multi-family rental owner
- Renewal cycle
- Annually (single-family); 12 months (multi-family)
- DCO review window
- 30 days to issue or reject certificate
- Ownership change
- New registration due within 30 days of sale
- Governing section
- City Code § 96.02
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, § 96.12, each day a separate offense
Summary
Every single-family and multi-family rental in Carrollton must be registered with the city and renewed annually under City Code § 96.02. The Designated City Official has 30 days to issue a certificate of registration or reject the application, registration cannot be transferred between owners, and renting an unregistered unit is a separate criminal offense for every day it continues.
A person who rents, leases or lets to another person a single-family dwelling shall register that property with the city and shall renew such registration annually on the date prescribed by the DCO. ... The DCO shall within 30 days after receipt of the registration application, either issue a certificate of registration or provide notification to the owner the application does not comply with the established requirements of this article. A certificate of registration shall be valid for the current calendar year. ... It shall be an offense if the person who owns a single-family dwelling, that is rented or offered for rent, fails to complete and submit a complete, accurate and timely registration to the city. ... It shall be an offense for a person to own or possess a single-family dwelling that is rented, or is offered for rent, that is not registered with the city.
Full Breakdown
02(A) requires anyone who rents, leases or lets a single-family dwelling to register that property with the city and renew the registration every year on the date the Designated City Official sets. The application must include the owner's name, address, phone numbers and driver's license or ID number, the property manager's contact information, the rental unit's address, and the name, ID number and headcount of every primary tenant over 18. The DCO has 30 days after receiving the application to either issue a certificate of registration, valid for the current calendar year, or notify the owner that it does not comply.
Registration is not assignable or transferable, and an owner with rentals at more than one address must file a separate registration for each. 02(B) imposes a parallel scheme on multi-family owners, whose certificates run for 12 months from issuance rather than the calendar year, and additionally bars using more than one trade name at a single location. 02(C), the DCO mails a renewal notice before each registration expires, but the burden is on the owner to renew on time even if that notice never arrives. A change of ownership triggers a fresh registration requirement within 30 days of the sale. 02(A)(8)-(10) and (B)(8)-(11).
Violations & Fines
Renting a single-family or multi-family unit without a current registration is an offense under § 96.02(A)(9) or (B)(9), and failing to file, renew, or accurately complete the registration is a separate offense under §§ 96.02(A)(8), (10) and (B)(8), (11). Each day an owner continues to operate unregistered counts as its own violation. Convictions carry the general misdemeanor penalty in § 96.12, punishable under § 10.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register a single rental house in Carrollton?
How long does the city have to approve my rental registration?
What if I sell a rental property I already registered?
What happens if I never register my rental unit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carrollton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Carrollton to another location·View the Texas rental inspections overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Inspection Programs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle inspection programs.