How to get a short-term rental permit in Fort Worth, TX (2026)
Fort Worth requires Short-Term Rental Registration — the fee is $150, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental Registration |
| Permit fee | $150 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs are not allowed in any residential zoning district (A-#, AR, B, R1, R2, CR, C, D, UR). They are allowed in all mixed-use and most form-based, commercial, and industrial zoning districts. Registration applications must include a Zoning Confirmation 'success' result; owners of prohibited properties may seek a rezoning to Planned Development (PD), but changes are not guaranteed. The residential prohibition was upheld by a Tarrant County district court in March 2025.
- 2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Registration
Submit the Short-Term Rental Registration application to Fort Worth and pay the $150 fee. First-time application fee is $150.00; annual renewal fee is $100.00 (Code Sec. 7-459). Registration and renewal are filed online through the Localgov portal, and applicants must upload a Zoning Confirmation showing the property is in a district where STR use is allowed. Registration is non-transferable.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Fort Worth. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Fort Worth changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Fort Worth for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Fort Worth before applying.