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

Denton

Moderate
TexasUpdated Apr 17, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 13, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Denton, TX require an annual registration, compliance with safety standards, and payment of local and state hotel occupancy taxes.

Restriction level

Severity 8
Classification
Moderate
8
Severity

Why this classification

  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • No STR-specific fee
  • Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

If you want to rent out your home for less than 30 days in Denton, you must register your property with the city every year. You are required to provide local contact information for emergencies and ensure your property meets safety codes, though currently, there are no specific zoning bans for owner-occupied properties.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$0
Processing time1-2 weeks
Max fine$2,000

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Occupancy is strictly capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with an absolute maximum of 10 people.
  2. 2The 24-hour local contact must be able to respond to complaints within one hour.
  3. 3City of Denton requires quarterly tax filings even if no income was earned during that period.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility5 rules
  • Denton, TX, TX allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwelling, Duplex, Townhouse, Condo, Apartment.
  • Denton, TX, TX: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Denton, TX, TX: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Requirements10 rules
  • Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Denton, TX, TX: 1. Occupancy is strictly capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with an absolute maximum of 10 people. 2. The 24-hour local contact must be able to respond to complaints within one hour. 3. City of Denton requires quarterly tax filings even if no income was earned during that period.
Application process7 rules
  • Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Denton, TX, TX: Step 1: Establish Hotel Occupancy Tax Account - Register for a tax account via the Denton Munis Self-Service portal to ensure you can remit city HOT taxes. Documents needed: Federal Tax ID or SSN, Property Details. Estimated time: 1-3 days. More info: https://dentontx.munisselfservice.com/ Step 2: Complete STR Registration Application - Submit the Short-Term Rental registration form through the City of Denton website, providing 24-hour contact info and property sketches. Documents needed: Proof of Ownership, Local Contact Information, Emergency Exit Floor Plan. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://www.cityofdenton.com/600/Short-Term-Rentals Step 3: Post Required Information - Post the registration number, occupancy limits, and emergency contact info inside the rental unit. Estimated time: 1 day.
Taxes3 rules
  • Texas has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Denton, TX, TX charges a Hotel Occupancy Tax of 0.07%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state tax, but hosts should verify if city-level taxes are remitted or if they must file manually.
Limits & restrictions5 rules
  • Denton, TX, TX limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Denton, TX, TX enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Denton, TX, TX limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.
  • Denton, TX, TX occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Denton, TX, TX requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan indicating exits must be posted, Working landline or cellular access for emergency calls.
Penalties3 rules
  • Denton, TX, TX enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning or $500 fine. Second offense: $1000 fine. Third offense: $2000 fine. Daily fine: Up to $2000 per violation per day. Maximum fine: 2000. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Denton, TX, TX: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Denton, TX, TX exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Denton

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Establish Hotel Occupancy Tax Account

Register for a tax account via the Denton Munis Self-Service portal to ensure you can remit city HOT taxes.

1-3 daysFree
Documents needed
  • Federal Tax ID or SSN
  • Property Details
Official resource
Step 2

Complete STR Registration Application

Submit the Short-Term Rental registration form through the City of Denton website, providing 24-hour contact info and property sketches.

1-2 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • Proof of Ownership
  • Local Contact Information
  • Emergency Exit Floor Plan
Official resource
Step 3

Post Required Information

Post the registration number, occupancy limits, and emergency contact info inside the rental unit.

1 dayFree

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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