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Denton, TX Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in Denton, TX, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

Registering agency
Development Services Department
Annual residential cap
1,000 certificates citywide
Per-parcel limit
2 certificates
Separation rule
100 feet between units
Renewal window
Nov 1 - Dec 31 annually

Summary

Denton requires every short-term rental to be registered with Development Services before it can be advertised or rented, with a citywide cap on residential certificates.

No person or entity shall advertise, offer to rent, or rent, lease, sublease, license, or sublicense a dwelling unit or bedroom within the city as a short-term rental for which a registration has not been properly made and filed with the Development Services Department. Registration shall be made upon forms furnished by the city for such purpose and shall specifically require the following minimum information:

Name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the property owner and the management company (if applicable) of the short-term rental property;

Verification that the proposed short-term rental dwelling unit or bedroom is managed by the property owner or by a management company;

Name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the designated Local Emergency Contact;

If the applicant does not own the property where the short-term rental is located, the registrant must provide written authorization, signed by the property owner before a notary public, authorizing the registrant to operate a short-term rental on the premises.

A submission of a sketch floor plan of the dwelling unit or bedroom with dimensional room layout; and

A site plan/survey of the property indicating maximum number of vehicles that can be

Source: City of Denton STR PageView official code

Full Breakdown

No one may advertise, offer to rent, or rent a dwelling unit or bedroom in Denton as a short-term rental until it is registered with the Development Services Department. The application must name the owner, any management company, and a local emergency contact, and include a floor plan and a parking site plan. Development Services caps residential-district registrations at 1,000 per year, issued in order received, with a 2-per-parcel limit and a 100-foot separation between units; excess applicants go on a waiting list. All certificates expire December 31 each year, with renewals accepted November 1 through December 31.

Violations & Fines

Advertising, offering, or operating an unregistered short-term rental is a code violation; the city can deny, suspend, or revoke a registration for noncompliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent out a room in Denton without registering it?
No. Advertising or renting any dwelling unit or bedroom as a short-term rental without a filed registration is prohibited under Section 5.3.5T.
What if Denton's 1,000 registration cap is reached?
Development Services stops issuing new residential certificates and places additional applicants on a waiting list until openings occur.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Denton

All Denton rules

How Denton compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview

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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Denton County handle short-term rental permits.

Lewisville, TX
Light Restrictions