El Paso does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Texas HB 1620 (2025) and Local Government Code Chapter 229 broadly preempt cities from banning non-owner-occupied STRs in residential zones outright.
El Paso Municipal Code Chapter 7, Section 7.10 regulates STRs through registration, taxation, and life-safety standards rather than residency status. Owners of investment properties, second homes, and out-of-state landlords may all operate STRs in El Paso so long as they register with the City Tax Office, collect Hotel Occupancy Tax, and meet building and fire code. State law passed in the 2025 session (HB 1620) further constrained any city move toward primary-residence-only rules, treating broad STR bans as impermissible regulation of residential property use.
Operating an unregistered STR is a Class C municipal offense subject to citation, escalating administrative fines per night, and potential suspension of the STR registration certificate by El Paso Tax Office.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
El Paso, TX
The City of El Paso does not regulate yard ornaments on private property. Statuary, religious displays, and decorative landscape elements are generally allow...
El Paso, TX
El Paso has no ordinance setting size, height, or hours limits for inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Wind is the primary practical...
El Paso, TX
El Paso does not impose specific install-by or take-down-by dates for holiday lights on private property. Holiday-light regulation in El Paso is overwhelming...
El Paso, TX
Built-in outdoor kitchens in El Paso require permits from Planning and Inspections for gas-line installation, electrical work, plumbing, and any structural e...
El Paso, TX
El Paso has no smoker-specific ordinance for single-family use, but backyard smokers fall under Title 9.04 nuisance code if smoke or odor unreasonably affect...
El Paso, TX
El Paso adopts the International Fire Code through Title 18 with local amendments, including IFC Section 308 prohibiting open-flame cooking devices on combus...
See how El Paso's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.