Ordinance No. 2026-104City of Temple (Bell County)

Short-Term Rental Moratorium & Mandatory Licensure Regulation

Bastiat Overreach Score: 88/100

Cost to Citizens: ~$850

Passed: 2026-08-20 • Effective: 2026-10-01

Executive Summary & Impact

Restricts homeowners from operating residential short-term rentals (STRs) in single-family zones without a conditional use permit, imposes a mandatory $850 annual inspection fee, and bans unhosted rentals within 1,000 feet of an existing STR.

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Official Legal Text & Codified Sections

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPLE, TEXAS, AMENDING THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE CHAPTER 33 REGARDING SHORT-TERM RENTALS; ESTABLISHING OPERATIONAL STANDARDS; MANDATING ANNUAL INSPECTIONS AND $850 PERMITTING FEES; PROHIBITING CLUSTERING WITHIN 1,000 FEET; PROVIDING A CRIMINAL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000 PER DAY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Section 33.402. - Permit Requirements.
No owner of residential property situated in a designated single-family zoning district (SF-1, SF-2) shall lease, advertise, or offer for occupancy any dwelling unit for a period of less than thirty (30) consecutive days without first obtaining an active Short-Term Rental Operator Permit from the Department of Planning and Development.

Section 33.408. - Penalties for Violation.
Any person, corporation, or entity violating any provision of this Ordinance shall upon conviction be fined up to two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per violation, with each calendar day of unlawful operation constituting a distinct and separate misdemeanor offense.