Short-term rental permit rules in Little Elm, TX — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Little Elm requires mandatory annual registration before listing or operating any short-term rental property. Registration costs $200 per year with a $400 late fee. Advertising a property without registration is a violation. The ordinance was established May 5, 2020 under Ordinance 1673 and applies to any residential property rented for fewer than 30 days.
Little Elm adopted short-term rental regulations on May 5, 2020, amending the Code of Ordinances to require registration for all properties rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days. This includes listings on Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, and similar platforms. The annual registration fee is $200, with a $400 penalty for late registration. Registration is valid for one calendar year and must be renewed. Property owners must complete the online Short-Term Rental and Tax Payment Form through the town portal before listing their property. Advertising without current registration constitutes a violation. Hosts must display required notices to guests and maintain records of all reservations, guest counts, vehicle counts, and tax filings. The registration program is administered by Community Integrity. Violations are reported to codeviolations@littleelm.org or through the Citizen Request Portal. Non-emergency assistance is available at (214) 975-0460. The ordinance does not prohibit short-term rentals but establishes monitoring standards to protect neighborhood integrity.
Fines up to $500 per offense. Each day is a separate violation. Progressive enforcement: first offense warning, second offense 6-month reapplication ban, third 1-year ban, fourth permanent ban.
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