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

Article XXIII of Chapter 28 of the Houston Code of Ordinances, enacted by Ordinance 2025-322 effective January 1, 2026, requires that any rental advertised or operated as a short-term rental in Houston have a minimum stay of one night; rentals shorter than one night are prohibited. The ordinance does not establish a maximum number of rental nights per calendar year, an annual booking ceiling, or a primary-residence-only cap of the type seen in cities such as Austin or Portland. Texas has no statewide STR preemption setting night limits, and Houston is famously the largest U.S. city without a conventional zoning code, so the city relies on Building Code, nuisance, and the new Article XXIII operational standards rather than zoning-based density caps. Operators must still meet the city's noise standards under Code of Ordinances Chapter 30, occupancy disclosed on the registration application, and parking standards. Two or more citations resulting in conviction for noise or other Article XXIII violations within a 12-month period can trigger revocation of the certificate of registration. Confirm any future night-cap amendments with ARA at 832-394-8802.