Burleson, TX Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Article X of Chapter 14, the apartment article, is a crime prevention program adopted by Ord. No. B-795-10 in 2010 to reduce crime, drugs, gangs, and gang activity at apartment properties within the City of Burleson. Section 14-551 defines an apartment as a multi-family residential rental property containing ten or more separate living units designed for residential occupancy, so smaller rental properties fall outside this article's definition. Under § 14-552(a), it is unlawful to operate an apartment in the city without first registering the ownership, and no fee is charged.

The owner supplies the police official with the owner's name and, for a corporation, its registered agent and address; the nature and extent of the owner's interest, which is 100 percent for a sole owner; and the name and address of the current manager or management company. A post office box does not satisfy the address requirement (§ 14-552(c)). A purchaser or transferee must file updated information within 30 days of the effective date of an ownership change, the owner of a newly constructed apartment must register not later than the 30th day following completion of construction, and a copy of the registration statement must be posted in the business office or a common area (§ 14-552(d) to (f)).

Compliance is deemed to meet V.T.C.A., Local Government Code §§ 250.003 and 250.004. Section 14-553 requires each manager to attend an eight-hour crime free multi-housing class provided by the police official at no charge and obtain a manager's license within 90 days. Voluntary level 1, 2 and 3 certificates under § 14-554 expire after two years. Short-term rentals are permitted separately under Article XII.