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

City Code § 26.61 makes it unlawful to rent, lease, use, or license a single-family premises, or any portion of one, as a short-term rental without first obtaining the single-family permit required by § 32.09. That permit application, filed with the Building Inspection Department, must list the owner's name, address, driver's license or government ID number, and any property manager, plus a statement of whether the home will be used as a short-term rental; if so, a to-scale floor plan diagram must accompany the application before inspection.

Under § 32.09(B), an owner is ineligible for the permit if he has claimed a homestead exemption on more than one residential property, or if he lacks liability insurance of at least $250,000 per person and $1,000,000 per event, coverage that must stay in force for the life of the permit. Before the City issues or renews the permit, § 32.09(H) requires the dwelling to pass a full inspection for compliance with the Code's minimum housing standards each time tenancy changes, unless the owner instead files a signed certification of compliance from a state-licensed real estate inspector dated within 30 days of the application.

Owners who complete the City's certification training course can qualify for a three-year permit under § 32.09(O) that skips reinspection between tenants. The annual permit fee is set in the Master Fee and Rate Schedule, but § 32.09(I)(2) fixes a floor: short-term rental permits cost no less than $500 a year regardless of that schedule. Once issued, the permit is good for one year, is tied to the specific premises, and cannot be sold, assigned, or transferred to a new owner under § 32.09(G).