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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Texas
  6. ·
  7. Amarillo

Amarillo

Moderate
Texas · City of AmarilloUpdated Apr 8, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 4, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Amarillo requires a short-term rental permit from the Planning Department, a life-safety inspection, and a $500,000 liability insurance policy.

Restriction level

Severity 11
Classification
Moderate
11
Severity

Why this classification

  • Standard permit fee: $200
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

Hosts in Amarillo must apply for an annual permit and pay a $200 fee for new registrations or $100 for renewals. The city requires a property inspection to ensure safety features like smoke detectors are present and mandates a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance. You must also provide off-street parking and follow guest limits based on the number of bedrooms in your home.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$200
Max fine$2,000

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Parking on lawns, landscaped areas, or public streets is strictly prohibited.
  2. 2Minimum of two off-street parking spaces required regardless of the number of bedrooms.
  3. 3Guest limits for residential zones are restricted to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility3 rules
  • Amarillo allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Multi-family, Guest house.
  • Amarillo does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Amarillo: Parking on lawns, landscaped areas, or public streets is strictly prohibited.
Requirements7 rules
  • Amarillo: Minimum of two off-street parking spaces required regardless of the number of bedrooms.
  • Amarillo: Hosts must report their rental activity periodically to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
  • Amarillo does not require STR registration.
  • Amarillo STR warning: Parking on lawns, landscaped areas, or public streets is strictly prohibited.
Application process7 rules
  • How to set up an STR in Amarillo: Hosts in Amarillo must apply for an annual permit and pay a $200 fee for new registrations or $100 for renewals. The city requires a property inspection to ensure safety features like smoke detectors are present and mandates a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance. You must also provide off-street parking and follow guest limits based on the number of bedrooms in your home.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Amarillo charges a registration fee of $200.
Taxes1 rule
  • Amarillo charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.07%.
Limits & restrictions1 rule
  • Amarillo: Guest limits for residential zones are restricted to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Amarillo requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
Penalties1 rule
  • Amarillo enforces the following penalties for STR violations: Maximum fine: 2000.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Amarillo

0/5
steps completed
Step 1

Gather Documentation

Prepare proof of property ownership, a site plan showing required parking, and a scaled floor plan clearly labeling all rooms.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Proof of Ownership
  • Floor Plans
  • Parking Plan
Official resource
Step 2

Secure Liability Insurance

Obtain a liability insurance certificate with a minimum coverage limit of $500,000 specifically for short-term rental use.

1-3 daysFree
Documents needed
  • Certificate of Insurance
Step 3

Submit Permit Application

Submit the application and supporting documents to the City of Amarillo Planning Department and pay the registration fee.

2 weeks$200
Documents needed
  • Application Form
  • Insurance Certificate
  • Plans
Official resource
Step 4

Pass Building Safety Inspection

The Building Safety Department will conduct an inspection to verify the presence of working smoke/CO detectors and general code compliance.

1 weekFree
Step 5

Register for Taxes

Set up accounts to remit city and venue district taxes (9%) and state hotel occupancy taxes (6%).

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Tax ID
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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