Richmond Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits Rules (2026)

Richmond, Texas has not adopted an STR ordinance and imposes no person-per-bedroom cap, party-size limit, or maximum guest count keyed to short-term rentals. Because the city relies on the Unified Development Code (UDC) and adopted building and property maintenance codes, occupancy in residential dwellings is bounded by the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) habitable-area minimums commonly applied through the building code: roughly 150 sq ft for the first occupant and 100 sq ft for each additional occupant, plus per-bedroom area minimums of about 70 sq ft for one occupant and 50 sq ft per additional occupant. Sleeping rooms must meet egress requirements under the International Residential Code and IFC, including operable emergency escape openings. The City Commission adopted an ordinance effective January 1, 2023 requiring all owner-occupied residences used as residential rental property and multifamily rental properties to be registered with the Building Department; the registration program does not impose an STR-specific occupancy cap but creates a record subject to property-standards enforcement. STR-length stays (under 30 consecutive days) qualify as taxable hotel use under Tex. Tax Code Sec. 156.001, triggering the 6% state HOT and the 2% Fort Bend County HOT inside city limits (effective Oct. 1, 2024, collection enforcement May 1, 2025). Operators should verify septic and on-site sewage facility (OSSF) capacity for properties on private septic, since high-occupancy use can exceed system design under TCEQ rules in 30 TAC Ch. 285. HOA CC&Rs in Pecan Grove Plantation, Long Meadow Farms, Briarwood Crossing, Walnut Creek, Veranda, and The Grove frequently impose minimum lease terms and overnight-guest caps enforceable under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 209 independent of city silence on STR occupancy.