Fort Worth, TX Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- City HOT Rate
- 9% (7% + 2% venue tax)
- State HOT
- 6% (Tex. Tax Code Ch. 156)
- Registration Fee
- $150 initial / $100 renewal
- Ordinance
- 26005-02-2023 (Feb 14, 2023)
- Permitted Zones
- Multifamily, Mixed-Use, Commercial only
Summary
Fort Worth charges a 9% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) on stays under 30 days (7% city tax plus 2% special venue district tax). STR registration costs $150 initial and $100 annual renewal under Ordinance 26005-02-2023. State HOT of 6% applies separately.
Sec. 7-459 Registration and Renewal Fees. (a) A registration fee of $150.00 will be charged to reimburse the City for costs associated with the administration of this Article. (b) An annual renewal fee of $100.00 will be charged upon filing of the renewal application. (c) The applicable fee shall be paid at the time the initial application is filed and at the time each renewal application is filed with the Department. Sec. 7-460 Hotel occupancy taxes; Request for occupancy history. Every person owning, operating, managing or controlling short-term rental shall collect the tax imposed in section 32-17 of this City Code for the city and remit the same to the tax assessor-collector on or before the due date, and at the same time file the report required by sections 32-18 and 32-19.
Full Breakdown
Fort Worth imposes a 9% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) on the cost of any room or sleeping space rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The 9% local rate consists of a 7% city hotel occupancy tax plus a 2% special hotel occupancy tax dedicated to the venue district. This applies to all short-term rentals, including those operated through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. The Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax of 6% (Texas Tax Code Chapter 156) is collected separately by the Texas Comptroller. On February 14, 2023, Fort Worth City Council adopted Ordinance 26005-02-2023, which created Article XIII of Chapter 7 (Buildings) requiring STR registration.
The initial registration fee is $150, with a $100 annual renewal fee. Registration is required for STRs operating in permitted zoning districts (Multifamily, Mixed-Use, and Commercial zones). STRs are prohibited in single-family residential ('A' and 'R') and two-family ('B') zoning districts, a ban upheld by a Tarrant County district court in March 2025. Operators must collect HOT from guests, file monthly reports with the city, and remit the tax to the Finance Department. Some platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) collect and remit state HOT automatically but local 9% city HOT is generally the operator's responsibility unless a specific platform agreement applies. Failure to register or remit HOT can result in administrative penalties, civil action, and revocation of the STR registration.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unregistered STR or operating in a prohibited residential zone violates Article XIII and is subject to citations, civil penalties, and administrative orders. Failure to collect or remit HOT can result in interest, penalties, and collection action by the Finance Department. STR registration may be denied, suspended, or revoked for repeated violations under Ordinance 26005-02-2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
How Fort Worth compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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