Lubbock does not impose a host-presence requirement on short-term rentals, and Texas HB 1620-style preemption efforts further limit cities from restricting unhosted whole-home rentals near Texas Tech and downtown.
Many Texas cities (Austin, Fort Worth) have tried to ban unhosted, non-owner-occupied STRs, but Lubbock has not adopted any host-presence rule. Owners may rent the entire dwelling without living onsite, and there is no cap on the number of nights a non-owner-occupied STR may operate. Operators must still pay the 7 percent city hotel occupancy tax plus 6 percent state HOT, and follow noise, parking, and trash ordinances. Texas state-level preemption proposals (HB 1620 and successors) would further restrict any future Lubbock host-presence ordinance, leaving the market open for whole-home rentals near Texas Tech, the Depot District, and Reese Center.
There is no host-presence violation in Lubbock; absentee STR operators face only general nuisance, HOT tax, and parking enforcement, not occupancy or residency penalties.
Lubbock, TX
Lubbock has no dedicated STR permit, but operators must register for Hotel Occupancy Tax with the city and state, and comply with residential zoning and buil...
Lubbock, TX
Lubbock does not require that short-term rentals be the operator primary residence. Investors and out-of-state owners may operate STRs in residential zones, ...
See how Lubbock's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.