LicensedRental

Texas county rules

Tarrant County, TX vacation rental rules and taxes

Tarrant County has no rental rules of its own and doesn’t report a county hotel tax to the Comptroller. Fort Worth bans short-term rentals in residential zones, Arlington allows them only in set zones, and Grapevine allows them only in approved apartment complexes, so check your city.

Checked against official sources November 8, 2026
County rental rules
None
Texas counties can’t zone.Source
County hotel tax
None reported
Market
About 2,700 Airbnb listings in the cities we cover
Fort Worth 1,664, Arlington 925, Mansfield 68, Grapevine 46.Source

What to do

  1. Then pick your city

    Texas counties can’t zone, so short-term rental permits, zoning limits, and the local hotel tax come from the city your home is in. Outside city limits there’s usually no permit, but deed restrictions and HOA rules often limit rentals.Source

Towns

Full guide

Arlington

Arlington allows short-term rentals only in its STR Zone near the Entertainment District, the RM-12 and RMF-22 districts, and some mixed-use and planned developments. The permit is $500 a year, needs a dimensioned floor plan, a plot plan showing parking, and $1 million insurance, and passes a city inspection. You file the city’s 9% hotel tax yourself.

Full guide

Fort Worth

Fort Worth doesn’t allow short-term rentals in residential zones, including single-family neighborhoods; they’re allowed only in mixed-use, form-based, commercial, and industrial districts, with a $150 city registration ($100 a year to renew). Courts upheld the ban in 2025 and 2026. You file the city hotel tax yourself through the city’s Localgov portal.

Full guide

Grapevine

Grapevine forbids short-term rentals in houses and in commercial buildings; since 2024 they’re allowed only in apartment complexes the City Council approves, with a permit and inspection. A homeowners’ lawsuit against the 2018 ban (City of Grapevine v. Muns) has kept some rentals going; check its status before you buy.

Full guide

Mansfield

Mansfield has about 70 Airbnb listings. Stays owe 6% state + 7% city hotel tax. We haven’t confirmed whether the city requires a short-term rental permit, so ask before you list.

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.