North Richland Hills, TX Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

North Richland Hills has not adopted the annual STR registration system seen in cities such as Austin or Arlington. Instead the process is two-tiered and more onerous: first, the operator must obtain a specific use permit (SUP) for short-term rental use through a zoning application to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council, including public notice to adjacent property owners, a public hearing, and imposition of conditions. Second, once approved (or if operating in a district where STR is permitted by right such as certain mixed-use PDs), the operator must register with the NRH Finance Department for a hotel occupancy tax account and with the Texas Comptroller under Tax Code Chapter 156. There is no single annual STR license that can be renewed like a business permit. SUPs run with the land under the conditions imposed, although some include sunset or review clauses. Operators must also obtain a Certificate of Occupancy confirming the structure meets residential safety standards and, in some cases, complete a fire and building safety inspection. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO do not verify city compliance, so unpermitted listings regularly appear and are subject to enforcement upon complaint.