Carrollton, TX Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Unrelated-adult cap
- 4 people max
- Smallest tier
- 4 adults, up to 1,200 sq ft
- Largest tier
- 10 adults, 4,501-5,000 sq ft
- Bedroom cap
- 1 to 6 occupants by room size
- Basis for square footage
- County appraisal district records
Summary
Carrollton caps short-term rental occupancy by square footage, not a flat headcount: as few as four adults in a home under 1,200 square feet, up to ten in one over 4,500. Unrelated adults are capped at four, and per-bedroom limits scale with room size too.
(G) Occupancy restrictions.It shall be unlawful for an owner, operator, or manager of a STR or B&B to let, rent, allow, provide, or advertise occupancy limits which exceed the occupancy load found in this subsection. (1) A STR or B&B shall not be occupied by more than four individuals who are unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption. The maximum occupancy of a STR or B&B for adult occupants 18 years of age or older is: Up to 1,200 [sq ft] - 4 Adult Occupants; 1,201 to 1,750 - 5 Adult Occupants; 1,751 to 2,400 - 6 Adult Occupants; 2,401 to 3,150 - 7 Adult Occupants; 3,151 to 4,000 - 8 Adult Occupants; 4,001 to 4,500 - 9 Adult Occupants; 4,501 to 5,000 - 10 Adult Occupants.
Full Breakdown
30(G) sets STR and B&B occupancy through two linked tables in the General Code, Chapter 97. First, no STR or B&B may be occupied by more than four individuals unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption. Second, the maximum number of adult occupants (18 and older) is tied to the home's finished square footage as reported by the county appraisal district: up to 1,200 square feet allows 4 adults, 1,201-1,750 allows 5, 1,751-2,400 allows 6, 2,401-3,150 allows 7, 3,151-4,000 allows 8, 4,001-4,500 allows 9, and 4,501-5,000 allows 10.
30(G)(2) counts both adults and children per room by the bedroom's square footage, from 1 occupant in a 70-119 square foot bedroom up to 6 occupants in a bedroom of 320 square feet or more. 30(G) for an owner, operator, or manager to let, rent, allow, provide, or advertise occupancy that exceeds these limits. 30(H) separately makes it unlawful to advertise or host a special event, such as a wedding or reunion, that would assemble large numbers of people beyond the licensed occupancy. 29(I).
Violations & Fines
Renting to more occupants than the square-footage table allows is a misdemeanor under Section 97.11, punishable per Section 10.99 for each day the violation continues, and each incident is a separate offense under Section 97.09(A). The DCO may also pursue the civil penalty track under Section 97.09(J), up to $1,000 per violation per day, and repeated occupancy violations count toward the three-citation threshold in Sections 97.26(A)(2) and 97.27(B)(2) that triggers license denial or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Carrollton set the maximum number of guests at a short-term rental?
Does Carrollton also limit how many people can sleep in one bedroom of a rental?
Can a Carrollton STR owner add a bedroom to legally house more guests?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carrollton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Carrollton to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle occupancy limits.