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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Texas
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  7. Stephenville

Stephenville

Permissive
Texas · City of StephenvilleUpdated Apr 1, 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

Short-term rentals in Stephenville are defined by the municipal code and require tax registration and compliance with strict occupancy limits regarding unrelated individuals.

Restriction level

Severity 3
Classification
Permissive
3
Severity

Why this classification

  • Reporting required
  • No STR-specific permit required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

In Stephenville, you must register your rental to pay both state and city lodging taxes, which total 15%. While there isn't a separate 'STR license' yet, you must follow zoning rules that generally limit the number of unrelated guests (like students) to 3 or 4 per home. You should also ensure your property has a valid Certificate of Occupancy for its current use.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$0
Max fine$500

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Occupancy is strictly limited to 3 unrelated individuals (though a revision to 4 was proposed in late 2024)
  2. 2Total local taxes are higher than most (9%) due to a 2% Sports Venue Tax addition
  3. 3Operating in an R-1 Single Family zone without a specific variance or rezone is generally prohibited

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility3 rules
  • Stephenville does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Stephenville allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Multi-family, Bed and Breakfast.
  • Stephenville: Operating in an R-1 Single Family zone without a specific variance or rezone is generally prohibited
Requirements6 rules
  • Stephenville STR warning: Total local taxes are higher than most (9%) due to a 2% Sports Venue Tax addition
  • Stephenville does not require STR registration.
  • Stephenville: Hosts must report their rental activity periodically to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
  • Stephenville STR warning: Operating in an R-1 Single Family zone without a specific variance or rezone is generally prohibited
Application process5 rules
  • Stephenville STR permit - Step 2: Register for City Hotel Occupancy Tax. Establish a tax account with the Stephenville Finance Department to remit the 7% city tax and 2% sports venue tax. Required documents: Property address, Owner contact details. Time: 1 week.
Taxes2 rules
  • Stephenville charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.07%.
  • Stephenville: Total local taxes are higher than most (9%) due to a 2% Sports Venue Tax addition
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • Stephenville: Occupancy is strictly limited to 3 unrelated individuals (though a revision to 4 was proposed in late 2024)
  • Stephenville limits STRs to a maximum of 4 guests.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Stephenville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
Penalties1 rule
  • Stephenville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: Maximum fine: 500.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Stephenville

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Obtain State Hotel Tax Permit

Register with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to receive a state hotel occupancy tax permit.

1-2 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • Business information
  • Owner ID
Official resource
Step 2

Register for City Hotel Occupancy Tax

Establish a tax account with the Stephenville Finance Department to remit the 7% city tax and 2% sports venue tax.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Property address
  • Owner contact details
Official resource
Step 3

Verify Zoning and Occupancy Compliance

Ensure the property is in an allowed zone (like R-3 or commercial) and verify the number of unrelated occupants does not exceed city limits (typically 3 or 4 individuals).

1-3 daysFree
Documents needed
  • Plat or property map
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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