EL PASO STR Regulations & BEST PRACTICES
Helpful information and resources to make sure you can continue to operate your short-term rental legally
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STATE REQUIREMENT: 6% HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX (HOT)
All short-term rental owners in Texas are subject to the state’s 6% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit this tax on your behalf for reservations booked through each respective platform. For reservations booked directly, operators are required to submit this tax on the 20th day of the month following the end of each calendar month.
EL PASO SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS
Currently, the City of El Paso does not have an ordinance specific to short-term rentals. However, everyone in El Paso, including short-term rental operators and guests, are required to abide by nuisance ordinances that apply to all properties. Additionally, STR hosts and managers are expected to uphold good neighbor practices and operate responsibly for the benefit of all stakeholders in our treasured community.
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Noise Ordinance
Quiet Hours:
10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. daily
Penalty for Violations: Class C misdemeanor + a fine up to $500
Best Practices
- Do not allow parties at your property and watch out for early warning signs
- Use noise monitoring to monitor noise decibel levels
- Use external security cameras to monitor guest traffic
- Inform guests of noise rules and good neighbor expectations in your listing, house rules, and pre-stay communications
Residential Parking Ordinance
Parking limitations and requirements vary by district throughout the city.
Citations Issues for Violations
Best Practices
- Do not allow parties at your property and watch out for early warning signs
- Use external security cameras to monitor guest parking
- Inform guests of parking limits, requirements, and availability in your listing, house rules, pre-stay communications, and on-site signage
Residential Waste Ordinance
Waste and recycling are to be stored in assigns bins and brought to and from the curb on corresponding pickup days.
Citations Issues for Violations
Best Practices
- Use external security cameras to monitor trash management
- Inform guests of trash and recycling management procedures in your house manual, on-site signage, and in-stay communications
Being a Great Host and Neighbor
Don't Allow Parties
Respect Quiet Hours + USE NOISE MONITORING
Honor Parking Limits
DON'T ALLOW ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
Use Exterior Cameras
Meet your Neighbors and Give them Your information
Maintain Property Exterior
Be an Ambassador to El Paso
Report a Property
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS
What is considered a short-term rental?
In Texas, according to 85 (R) H.B. 2551, a “short term rental” is any residential property, “including a single-family dwelling or a unit in a condominium, cooperative, or time-share, that is rented wholly or partly for a fee for a period not longer than 30 consecutive days”.
Does the City of El Paso have an ordinance in place?
El Paso does not have an ordinance specific to short-term rentals at this time. However, nuisance ordinances that apply to all residents and visitors of El Paso also apply to short-term rental hosts and guests.
Does the city of El Paso require permits to start my STR?
Not at this time, but by being an exemplary host and self-regulating short-term rentals as a community, we can stave off stricter rules.
Do I have to pay the hotel occupancy taxes?
Yes, short-term rentals are subject to the state’s 6% hotel occupancy tax.
Who remits the HOT?
Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit this tax on your behalf for reservations booked through each respective platform. For reservations booked directly, operators are required to submit this tax on the 20th day of the month following the end of each calendar month.
Do I still have to file tourism taxes if the platforms remit them for me?
For reservations transacted on Airbnb or Vrbo, hosts should not report rental receipts to the Comptroller. These two platforms will report rental receipts and remit state hotel occupancy taxes to the Comptroller for rentals booked on their respective platforms.
Can my HOA override state or local STR laws?
Yes, your HOA CC&Rs may be more strict than El Paso’s rules, meaning they can ban STRs or apply strict limits even if the city allows them. HOAs may not allow STRs if the city does not allow them. They must, however, follow their own voting procedures to change the CC&Rs.
What if my property falls outside of El Paso city limits – do city rules still apply to me?
No. Your property would be subject to the rules and regulations of the city or town in which your property is located. If your property is in an unincorporated area, it would be subject to the regulations of unincorporated areas of El Paso County.