Harlingen, TX Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration agency
- Harlingen Building Inspections
- Registration fee
- $50 per rental unit
- Disclosure required
- Bedroom count + day/night occupancy limit
- Max fine
- $500 per day, per offense
Summary
Harlingen requires every short-term rental registration to state the unit's bedroom count and its day and night occupancy limit.
The number of bedrooms and the applicable overnight and daytime occupancy limit of the proposed short-term rental unit;
(5) The property ID number as listed on the Cameron County Appraisal District; and
(6) Such other information as the city manager, or designee, deems reasonably necessary to administer this section.
(7) If any information on the registration form changes, the owner/operator must modify that information within 30 days.
(e) Registration fee.
The short-term rental registration form shall be accompanied by a registration fee as established by the Harlingen City Commission.
(1) The rental registration fee shall be $50.00 (per rental unit).
(2) The registration fee may be waived for those properties that have been properly remitting hotel occupancy tax.
(3) A registration is valid from the date the completed registration is filed with the city and payment of the registration fee (if applicable) has been made and is transferable if the ownership of the short term rental changes.
(4) Each property shall be issued a registration number.
(5) The registration number must appear on any advertisement of the property available for short term rental.
(f) Discrimination prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4546847; v3 updated 2025-07-16).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 42-28(d)(4), an owner/operator registering a short-term rental with Building Inspections must submit "the number of bedrooms and the applicable overnight and daytime occupancy limit of the proposed short-term rental unit." The city does not set a citywide numeric cap; the operator declares the limit, which then becomes an enforceable term of the registration under § 42-28(g).
Violations & Fines
Fine up to $500 per offense, per day, for noncompliance with the registration or the disclosed occupancy limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harlingen set a specific STR occupancy cap?
What happens if an STR exceeds its stated occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harlingen
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Harlingen to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle occupancy limits.