Dallas rental registration rules: $74 houses, $13-per-unit apartments

Dallas answers the registration question with a clear yes, twice. A rented single-family home, duplex or condominium unit must be registered with the Department of Code Compliance every year; a multi-tenant property must be registered every year for each of its units. Both programs come with city inspections on a fixed cycle plus complaint inspections, and both are anchored in Chapter 27 of the Dallas City Code, the minimum property standards. The figures below are from the city’s program pages as read in September 2026.

Single-family, duplex and condo: $74 a year and a five-year inspection

The city’s program page states: “Beginning on October 1, 2025, owners of rental properties (single-family homes, duplexes, and condo units) in the City of Dallas will be required to register their properties annually by submitting an online registration application, a non-refundable fee of $74.00 and an annual Owner’s Self Inspection Checklist with the affidavit for each dwelling or unit. The program also requires the City of Dallas to conduct a comprehensive inspection at least once every five years” (Single-Family Rental Registration and Inspection Program). Inspections are “at least once every five years but not more frequently than once a year,” with no limit on complaint-based inspections; they cover interior, exterior and premises and are performed by a city code officer. Registration requires a government photo ID and is submitted through the city’s online permit portal. An affidavit of exemption exists for properties that fall outside the program; the office is at 3112 Canton Street, (214) 671-RENT.

Multi-tenant: $13 per unit and a three-year inspection

For apartment properties, the Multi-Tenant Registration and Inspection Program page reads: “Effective October 1, 2025, the annual registration fee will be $13 per multi-tenant dwelling unit, calculated based on the total number of dwelling units on site, regardless of occupancy.” Renewal is due at least thirty days before the prior year’s registration expires, or on taking ownership or control of the property, and “multi-tenant properties must be inspected at least once every three years.” The city publishes inspection scores by year, so the result of an inspection is public.

The standard: Chapter 27

Both programs refer inspectors and owners to Chapter 27 of the Dallas City Code, the Minimum Urban Rehabilitation Standards, and the city publishes a Chapter 27 reference manual%20(003).pdf) for housing standards. That manual is the checklist to run before an inspection: it is what the code officer is looking at. The code itself is on the city’s code library (Dallas City Code).

Short-term rentals: registration in suspense

Dallas adopted two ordinances on June 14, 2023 — one restricting short-term rentals in single-family zoning, one creating an STR registration scheme — and a Dallas County district court enjoined both on December 6, 2023. Through September 2026 the city was still seeking to lift the injunction on appeal. No official city page stating the rule currently in force was available to verify, so this guide does not describe one. Until it is settled, treat any stay of under 30 days as something to clear with the city first.

DALLAS RENTAL PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE (READ SEPTEMBER 2026)
Program	Applies to	Fee	Renewal	Inspection	Source
Single-Family Rental Registration	Rented single-family homes, duplexes, condo units	$74 per year	Annual, with owner’s self-inspection affidavit	City inspection at least every 5 years; complaints unlimited	Code Compliance
Multi-Tenant Registration	Apartment properties, every unit counted	$13 per unit per year	Annual, 30 days before expiry	City inspection at least every 3 years	Code Compliance
Short-term rental registration	Stays under 30 days	Ordinance enjoined since December 2023	—	—	City Code

Exemptions and changes of ownership

The single-family program page provides an affidavit of exemption for properties that fall outside the program — an owner-occupied home with a rented room is the typical case — and the multi-tenant page requires registration “upon taking ownership or control of the property,” which means a purchase or a change of manager restarts the clock rather than inheriting the seller’s registration. Buyers of a Dallas rental should ask for the seller’s registration number and last inspection report during due diligence, then file their own registration at closing.

What to keep in the file

The registration confirmation and number, and the date of the annual affidavit.
A copy of the owner’s self-inspection checklist as filed, with photographs taken the same day.
The last city inspection report, if any, and the correction dates for each item.
For apartments: the unit count used for the $13 fee, since it counts vacant units too.
A calendar entry 30 days before expiry for multi-tenant renewals, and a reminder that a change of ownership restarts registration.

What changes in Dallas

Every rented house, duplex or condo unit is registered annually for $74 with an owner’s self-inspection affidavit — most Texas cities have no such program.
Apartments pay $13 per unit per year on all units, occupied or not, and are inspected at least every three years with scores published.
Single-family rentals are inspected by the city at least once every five years, plus any complaint.
The short-term rental ordinances have been enjoined since December 2023; the rule in force could not be verified on an official page.

Frequently asked questions

Is rental registration mandatory in Dallas?

Yes. Owners of rented single-family homes, duplexes and condo units register annually with Code Compliance for $74 (program page); apartment owners register every unit for $13 a year (multi-tenant page).

How often does the City of Dallas inspect a rental house?

At least once every five years and not more than once a year for the programmatic inspection, plus complaint-based inspections without limit, per the single-family program page.

Do vacant apartments count for the Dallas multi-tenant fee?

Yes. The $13 fee is “calculated based on the total number of dwelling units on site, regardless of occupancy.”

Is there a Dallas short-term rental registration?

The registration ordinance adopted in June 2023 was enjoined by a district court in December 2023 and remained in litigation in September 2026. No official page describing an operating registration was available to check; contact the city before offering stays under 30 days.

Sources

Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.

General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.