Dallas County, TX Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Dallas County has not adopted an order capping the number of nights a dwelling can be rented on a short-term basis. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 240 gives counties only narrowly defined nuisance authority, and the Legislature has not granted counties the same home-rule regulatory power that cities enjoy under Local Government Code Chapters 51 and 211. Because Dallas County is not a home-rule jurisdiction, it cannot enact zoning, licensing, or occupancy-day caps on short-term rentals in unincorporated pockets. Hosts operating in unincorporated Dallas County must still collect and remit the 6% Texas state hotel occupancy tax under Texas Tax Code Chapter 156 for stays under 30 consecutive days, but no county-level hotel occupancy tax or rental-night cap applies (Dallas County has not adopted a venue-project tax under Tax Code Ch. 334 that would affect STRs). Deed restrictions, HOA covenants, and private subdivision rules commonly impose stricter limits and are enforceable in civil court regardless of county position. Properties located inside city limits within Dallas County (e.g., City of Dallas, Grand Prairie, Mesquite) are subject to those cities' STR registration, tax, and operational rules, including any city-imposed night caps. Owners should confirm jurisdiction via the Dallas Central Appraisal District parcel lookup before assuming the property sits in unincorporated territory.