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Lubbock, TX Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Allowed locations
Legal ADU or operator's primary residence only
Governing section
UDC § 39.02.018(c)(6)(B)
Permit fee
$100, renewed annually
Permit transferability
Nontransferable, does not run with sale
Denial ground
Noncompliance with § 39.02.018c.6 standards
Appeal body
Permit and License Appeals Board

Summary

Lubbock zoning caps where a short-term rental can legally operate: under Unified Development Code Section 39.02.018(c)(6)(B), the use may only occur inside a legal accessory dwelling unit or within the operator's primary residence, shutting the door on stand-alone, investor-only rental houses citywide.

B. Accommodations. The use shall only occur in: i. A legal accessory dwelling unit; or ii. Within a primary residence.

Source: Lubbock Code of OrdinancesView official code

Full Breakdown

018(c)(6) to run one legally, not just obtain a permit. 03 of the City Code. Subsection B then narrows where the use can physically exist: the property must be either a legal accessory dwelling unit or the operator's primary residence. A whole single-family house that nobody actually lives in as their primary home, purchased and operated purely as a rental, does not fit either category and cannot lawfully carry the short-term rental use, no matter how the permit application is filled out. This distinguishes Lubbock's approach from a straight registration-and-tax model: the accommodation restriction is a land-use standard, not a licensing formality, so a property that fails it is out of compliance with the zoning code itself. 018(c)(6) standards, including the primary-residence/ADU limit, or has a history of noncompliance with them.

Violations & Fines

Failing the primary-residence-or-ADU test in Section 39.02.018(c)(6)(B) is an express ground for permit denial or revocation under Section 39.07.029(f)(1)(B). The Director of Planning issues written notice of the denial or revocation stating the reason, and the applicant can appeal to the Permit and License Appeals Board under Article 2.03 of the City Code. Operating without a valid permit is independently unlawful under Section 39.07.029(c).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a Lubbock short-term rental in a house I don't live in?
No. Section 39.02.018(c)(6)(B) limits the use to a legal accessory dwelling unit or the operator's primary residence, so a separately owned, non-owner-occupied rental house does not qualify as a short-term rental use under the zoning code.
What happens if my Lubbock short-term rental doesn't meet the primary-residence rule?
The Director of Planning can deny or revoke the Short-Term Rental Permit under Section 39.07.029(f)(1)(B), which cites noncompliance with the Section 39.02.018(c)(6) standards, including the accommodation limit, as an explicit ground for that action.
Can I appeal a denied or revoked short-term rental permit in Lubbock?
Yes. The Director of Planning must provide written notice explaining the denial or revocation, and the applicant has the right to appeal to the Permit and License Appeals Board under Article 2.03 of the City of Lubbock Code of Ordinances.
Does an accessory dwelling unit qualify as a short-term rental in Lubbock?
Yes, as long as it is a legal ADU. Section 39.02.018(c)(6)(B) names a legal accessory dwelling unit as one of the only two accommodation types eligible for the short-term rental use, alongside the operator's primary residence.

Sources & Official References

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