Rockwall, TX Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Rockwall, TX, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Application fee
- $500.00
- Permit term
- 3 years
- Renewal deadline
- 30 days before expiration
- Insurance required
- $500K/$1M commercial coverage
- Transferable
- No
Summary
Rockwall requires a $500 short-term rental permit for every address before you advertise or operate an STR, renewed every three years.
No person shall advertise, offer for rent or lease, establish or operate a short-term rental on any property within the city without registering and being approved for a short-term rental permit. A short-term rental permit shall be required for each physical address, regardless of the ownership of the property or the physical attributes of the structure situated on the property (e.g. the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, cooking facilities, etc.).
(b) Short-term rental permit. An application for a short-term rental permit shall be submitted on a form provided by the city. A short-term rental permit shall be accompanied by an application fee of $500.00, and shall include the following information:
(1) Ownership information. The name, street address, email address, and telephone number of the owner of the short-term rental, and verification if the short-term rental is owner occupied (i.e. the applicant's residence). If the owner of the property is a partnership, a corporation, or limited liability company, the application shall list the names of all partners, directors, members, or officers, as applicable, of ownership entity.
(2) Responsible party. The name, street address, email address, and telephone number of the responsible party (see section 13-29 , enforcement or penalty).
(3) Site plan. A site plan showing the location of the short-term rental and the parking areas provided for the short-term rental.
(4)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
No one may advertise, offer for rent, or operate a short-term rental in Rockwall without first registering and getting a permit for that specific address. The application costs $500 and must include owner and responsible-party contact information, a site plan, property photos, proof of $500,000/$1,000,000 commercial insurance, and a sworn compliance certification. Permits run three years and must be renewed 30 days before expiration or nonconforming rights lapse. Permits are non-transferable to a new owner, operator, or address.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, an incomplete application, lapsed insurance not reported within 30 days, or attempting to transfer a permit can void it or trigger revocation under Sec. 13-30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent my Rockwall home short-term without a permit?
How long does a Rockwall STR permit last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockwall
How Rockwall compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Rockwall to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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