Stafford requires every single-family rental home to be registered annually with a $250 fee and to pass a comprehensive city inspection before a rental permit is issued.
Approved by City Council on April 4, 2018, and codified in Chapter 14 of the city code, the Residential Rental Registration Program applies to all single-family rental homes within Stafford. Owners or their authorized agents must submit an application, pay a non-refundable $250 annual fee, and pass a mandatory comprehensive inspection. Critical or life-safety violations must be isolated from the tenant within 72 hours and fully repaired within a reasonable time. Permits are valid for one year and may be renewed up to 60 days before expiration.
Operating an unregistered rental, failing inspection, or ignoring critical-violation timelines triggers municipal court citations, daily fines, and potential permit denial or revocation preventing further rental of the unit.
See how other cities in Fort Bend County handle rental registration.
See how Stafford's rental registration rules stack up against other locations.
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