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

Rowlett's short-term rental ordinance (Ord. No. 007-23, Article XI, Division 4) does not impose a primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement. Nothing in Sec. 10-425 (permit requirements) or Sec. 10-427 (general standards) conditions a permit on the owner living in the home, and the STR definition in Sec. 10-401 covers any qualifying residential dwelling - single-family, duplex, townhouse, garage apartment, guest house, or a unit in a multi-family building - rented for a fee for under 30 days. The permit application asks 'Is property owner-occupied? YES / NO,' which signals that both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied properties may be permitted. The only place owner-occupancy changes the rules is parking: Sec. 10-427(a) limits guest parking to four vehicles in the garage and driveway, but allows an owner of an owner-occupied property to park their personal vehicles on the street if not otherwise prohibited. In short, an investor can operate a whole-home, non-owner-occupied STR in Rowlett, provided they obtain the annual permit, notify neighbors within 200 feet, pass inspections, post the guest safety sheet, and remit the quarterly hotel occupancy tax. Owners should still confirm any private deed restrictions or HOA bylaws, which the city's notification form expressly reminds owners to check; Texas courts have at times enforced HOA/deed restrictions against STRs even where city ordinances permit them.