Dallas Short-Term Rental License: The Complete 2026 Guide

Dallas has no short-term rental registration to file today. In 2023 the city passed two ordinances, a registration with a fee and a ban on STRs in single-family districts, and a court injunction has blocked both since December 6, 2023. The Texas Supreme Court hears the city’s appeal on December 3, 2026, and the injunction stays in place until it rules. Hotel Occupancy Tax (6% state plus 9% city) must still be collected and remitted monthly via MUNIRevs, and the noise and nuisance rules still apply. Here’s what you need to know now (updated October 27, 2026).

Active hosts in Dallas average $35,012/year in gross rental revenue (AirDNA, 2026).

Do You Need a License to Short-Term Rent in Dallas?

Not while the court injunction stands. Dallas passed two short-term rental ordinances in 2023: a registration ordinance with a fee and operating standards, and a zoning change that would bar STRs from single-family districts. A temporary injunction issued December 6, 2023 blocks both. The Fifth District Court of Appeals upheld it in July 2025, and the Texas Supreme Court agreed on October 23, 2026 to hear the city’s appeal (No. 25-0748), with oral argument on December 3, 2026. Until it rules, the city is not taking short-term rental registrations or collecting registration fees. The Dallas Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) is separate from the registration ordinance and must still be collected and remitted monthly through the MUNIRevs platform. All STR operators should also hold a Texas Comptroller HOT permit.

Dallas Short-Term Rental Permit: What to Do While It Is on Hold

1. Check the zoning district. The on-hold 2023 zoning change would bar STRs from single-family districts if the Texas Supreme Court lets it take effect, so a single-family home carries more risk.
2. Obtain a Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) permit from the Texas Comptroller at comptroller.texas.gov.
3. Set up remittance of Dallas City HOT through MUNIRevs at munirevs.com — monthly remittance is required regardless of the registration ordinance status.
4. Follow the noise and nuisance rules, which the city enforces today.
5. Watch the Texas Supreme Court case (No. 25-0748, oral argument December 3, 2026). If the court lets the ordinances take effect, the registration, its fee and the operating standards would apply.

Dallas Short-Term Rental Fees (2026)

The injunction stays in place until the Texas Supreme Court rules, and there is no date for a ruling yet. Budget for a possible registration fee, but there is nothing to register today.

Key Rules & Restrictions for Dallas Hosts

• No city registration is required while the injunction stands, and the city is not taking registrations.
• Dallas Hotel Occupancy Tax must be remitted monthly via MUNIRevs regardless of the injunction status.
• The 2023 single-family zoning ban is on hold too, but a single-family home carries more risk if the Texas Supreme Court lets it take effect.
• The operating standards in the on-hold ordinance (occupancy limits, a local responsible party who can respond within 1 hour) are good practice even though they are not enforced, and the city’s general noise and nuisance rules apply today.
• Texas Comptroller HOT permit required for state tax compliance.

Taxes Short-Term Rental Hosts Owe in Dallas

Texas state HOT: 6%. City of Dallas HOT: 9% (remitted monthly via MUNIRevs). Total: approximately 15%. Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit TX state HOT automatically, but Dallas has no collection agreement with them for the city tax, so the owner or manager remits the 9% city HOT directly via MUNIRevs.

Penalties for Operating Without a Permit in Dallas

Failure to remit HOT: Texas Comptroller enforcement (liens, tax warrants). There is no registration penalty while the injunction stands. If the Texas Supreme Court lets the ordinance take effect, operating without a registration could bring city fines. Noise and nuisance violations are enforced today.

How HostStarter Handles Dallas STR Compliance

Keeping pace with Dallas rules (tax remittance, the court case, and whatever the ordinance requires if it takes effect) is an ongoing job. HostStarter’s full-service property management includes compliance handling: we file hotel occupancy tax, track the Texas Supreme Court case, handle the registration for managed properties if the ordinance takes effect, and alert you to regulatory changes before they affect your revenue.

Get a free Dallas revenue estimate from HostStarter →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Dallas?

Not while the court injunction stands. Dallas passed a short-term rental registration ordinance in 2023, but a court injunction has blocked it since December 2023, and the city is not taking registrations or fees. The Texas Supreme Court hears the city’s appeal on December 3, 2026. You must still remit Hotel Occupancy Tax (6% state plus 9% city) monthly via MUNIRevs and follow the noise and nuisance rules.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Dallas?

Nothing today. The registration ordinance and its fee are on hold under the court injunction, and the city is not collecting registration fees. A fee would apply only if the Texas Supreme Court lets the ordinance take effect.

How long does it take to get an STR license in Dallas?

There is no license or registration to apply for today, because the city is not taking registrations while the injunction stands. If the Texas Supreme Court lets the ordinance take effect, the city would set up the registration process then.

What taxes do Airbnb hosts owe in Dallas?

Dallas hosts owe Texas state HOT (6%) and Dallas city HOT (9%), about 15% in total. Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit TX state tax automatically, but Dallas has no collection agreement with them for the city tax, so the owner or manager remits the 9% city HOT directly via MUNIRevs.

What are the penalties for operating an unlicensed Airbnb in Dallas?

Failure to remit HOT taxes is the main enforcement risk today, with liens and tax warrants from the Texas Comptroller. There is no registration penalty while the injunction stands. If the Texas Supreme Court lets the ordinance take effect, operating without a registration could bring city fines.