Cedar Hill, TX Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Measurement
- Cap: 2 adults per bedroom + 2 additional, subject to IPMC max
- Rule
- 3-BR = 8 overnight; 4-BR = 10; 5-BR = 12
- Measurement
- No weddings or large events at STRs in residential zones
- Measurement
- Occupancy must be posted inside the rental
- Permit/License
- Repeat violations = registration revocation
Summary
Cedar Hill caps short-term rental occupancy at two adults per bedroom plus two additional guests, not to exceed the building code maximum. Events, weddings, and large parties at STRs are prohibited without a separate special event permit.
Sec. 92.010. OCCUPANCY LIMITS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the maximum number of adults that a landlord may allow to occupy a dwelling is three times the number of bedrooms in the dwelling. ... (d) In this section: (1) "Adult" means an individual 18 years of age or older. (2) "Bedroom" means an area of a dwelling intended as sleeping quarters. The term does not include a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, living room, utility room, or closet or storage area of a dwelling.
Full Breakdown
Cedar Hill applies a 2-per-bedroom + 2 occupancy cap to short-term rentals registered under its STR ordinance. A 3-bedroom home is therefore limited to 8 overnight guests, a 4-bedroom to 10, and so on. The cap cannot exceed the maximum occupancy permitted by the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted (which uses square footage of bedrooms and habitable space). Daytime visitors are counted toward the maximum after a certain headcount (typically the overnight cap +6 for daytime), and any gathering involving outdoor amplified music, catering tents, or 25+ guests is treated as an 'event' that requires a special event permit and is generally prohibited at STRs in residential zones. Operators must post the occupancy limit inside the rental and report it on the city STR registration. Violations stem most often from listing the home for weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, or quinceañeras.
Violations & Fines
STR registration suspension/revocation; Class C misdemeanor citation under the STR ordinance up to $500; civil enforcement of the special event permit rule for unpermitted gatherings; immediate shutdown by police for nuisance gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children count toward the occupancy cap?
Can I host a small daytime birthday party at my STR?
What if my listing already advertises 'sleeps 16' but the cap is 12?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cedar Hill
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Cedar Hill 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.