Houston's 2024 short-term rental ordinance does not restrict STRs to operators' primary residences. Investor-owned whole-home rentals remain lawful citywide, subject to registration and hotel occupancy tax. Deed restrictions in many subdivisions independently prohibit transient rental use.
Some U.S. cities (San Francisco, Boston, Portland) limit short-term rentals to a host's verified primary residence, capping investor-driven hotelization of housing stock. Houston's 2024 STR ordinance, advanced after extended City Council debate, deliberately avoided a primary-residence-only restriction in favor of registration, tax, life-safety, and complaint-based enforcement. Investor-owned whole-home units may operate citywide if the operator registers and remits hotel occupancy tax. Practical limits come from private deed restrictions, which restrict transient rentals in many River Oaks, Memorial, Heights, and master-planned subdivisions. The City of Houston Legal Department uses Local Government Code Chapter 212 authority to sue operators violating deed restrictions, sometimes obtaining permanent injunctions against repeat-offender STR addresses.
Failure to register or pay hotel occupancy tax draws administrative citations and fines under the 2024 ordinance. Deed-restriction violations support civil suits by the City or HOAs seeking injunctions, civil penalties, and attorney fees.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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