Short-term rental permit rules in El Paso, TX — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
The City of El Paso does not currently require a short-term rental permit, license, or registration. STR operators need only register for the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and the City of El Paso 9% local HOT, plus general business compliance. A city STR ordinance is under consideration but had not been adopted as of May 2026.
El Paso has not adopted a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance or vacation rental permit program. To operate an STR (a residential rental of less than 30 days) in El Paso, an owner must: (1) register for the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%) under Tex. Tax Code Chapter 156 and remit it to the Texas Comptroller; (2) register for and remit the City of El Paso local Hotel Occupancy Tax (9%) to the City Tax Office; (3) comply with general property maintenance and zoning requirements applicable to residential use; and (4) follow any HOA/CC&R restrictions on rentals. In January 2026 the El Paso City Council began considering a draft ordinance amending Title 20 of the city code to formally define short-term rentals under the zoning chapter, with a public hearing and vote scheduled for February 2026, but as of this entry the City of El Paso does not require any STR permit, registration, or city license specific to short-term rentals. In August 2023 the city launched a pilot program to monitor STR complaints through the 311 number, but this is a complaint-tracking program and not a permit requirement.
There is no El Paso STR permit, so there is no penalty for failing to obtain one. Failure to register for and remit the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%) is enforced by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts with civil penalties and interest under Tex. Tax Code Chapter 156. Failure to remit the City of El Paso local HOT (9%) is enforced by the El Paso City Tax Office. HOA/CC&R violations are enforced privately under the recorded restrictions.
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