El Paso, TX Short-Term Rentals: Extended Home Share (2026)
Key Facts
- Long-stay threshold
- 30+ consecutive nights
- HOT applies under
- 30 nights
- Long stays governed by
- TX Property Code Ch. 92
- Fort Bliss demand
- Steady year-round
Summary
El Paso STRs may host extended-stay bookings of 30 nights or longer, which fall outside Hotel Occupancy Tax and city STR registration. Short stays under 30 nights remain subject to Chapter 7 registration and tax remittance rules.
Sec. 92.001. DEFINITIONS. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, in this chapter:(1) "Dwelling" means one or more rooms rented for use as a permanent residence under a single lease to one or more tenants.(2) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of a dwelling, but does not include a manager or agent of the landlord unless the manager or agent purports to be the owner, lessor, or sublessor in an oral or written lease.(3) "Lease" means any written or oral agreement between a landlord and tenant that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or other provisions regarding the use and occupancy of a dwelling. Sec. 92.002. APPLICATION. This chapter applies only to the relationship between landlords and tenants of residential rental property.
Full Breakdown
Under Texas Tax Code Chapter 156 and El Paso Municipal Code Chapter 7, a stay becomes a residential lease at 30 consecutive nights with the same guest. At that point HOT no longer applies, the unit is not counted as a short-term rental, and standard landlord-tenant law including Texas Property Code Chapter 92 governs the relationship. This has fueled a Fort Bliss and UTEP-driven monthly furnished-rental market serving relocating soldiers, traveling nurses at UMC, and visiting faculty. Hosts must track bookings carefully because mixed durations within a year still require STR registration.
Violations & Fines
Misclassifying short stays as long-term to evade HOT can trigger back-tax assessments, penalty interest, and registration revocation by the El Paso Tax Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I owe Hotel Occupancy Tax on a 45-night booking?
Does a long-term tenant get Texas eviction protections?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
Texas rules heatmap·Compare El Paso to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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