Plano rental registration rules: apartments by October 31, STR Code 2024

Plano has two registration codes, both inside Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances and both read on Municode in September 2026, current through July 9, 2026. Division 3 of Article III registers larger, older apartment complexes; Article XXIV registers short-term rentals. Neither reaches a house, duplex or condominium rented for 30 days or more.

Multi-Family Dwelling Registration and Inspection Code

Section 6-63 applies the division “to multi-family complexes located in the city which are five (5) years old or older with five (5) or more dwelling units,” administered by the director of neighborhood services. Section 6-70 requires the landlord to “annually register the complex … by October 31 of each calendar year”; a registration is valid for one calendar year unless ownership changes, in which case the new owner files within 30 days and pays a $25 re-issue fee, rising to a $75 late fee after 30 days. Renewals received after October 31 carry surcharges of 10% within one month, 30% within two months and 50% thereafter, and all city fees and assessments must be current before renewal. The form requires the trade name, addresses, total unit count and the names and 24-hour telephone number of the employees assigned to respond to emergency conditions. The annual registration fee itself is set by the city’s fee schedule, which was not read for this guide. The same article adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2024 edition, as the city’s property maintenance standard (§6-46, Ordinance 2025-6-4 of June 9, 2025).

The Short-Term Rental Code

Article XXIV, adopted by Ordinance 2024-4-14 on April 22, 2024, defines a short-term rental as a dwelling unit or part of one “offered or used for transient lodging, in exchange for compensation, for less than thirty (30) consecutive days.” Its mechanics: registration is required and non-transferable; the applicant must show the use is allowed by right or by specific use permit in the zoning district; the operator designates a contact, self-inspects and keeps records; the director may offer annual training and discount the registration by up to $100 for completing it; a buyer of a registered property may operate for 30 days before updating the registration; and hosting platforms must display the city’s warning that renting without an active registration is prohibited (§6-734). Section 6-733(b) preserves leases, private contracts and HOA rules that forbid short stays. Offences under §6-748 include operating without registration, failing to self-inspect or keep records, and advertising a non-compliant STR — the registrant is presumed to have allowed a listing on an identified platform. The registration fee is set by the fee schedule, not read here.

Houses and condos rented long-term

Nothing in Chapter 6 registers a one- or two-family dwelling or a condominium unit rented for 30 days or more, and Chapter 11 (Licenses and Business Regulations) contains no rental license (Plano Code of Ordinances). Record the conclusion with its date; the city’s standard on complaint is the IPMC 2024.

PLANO RENTAL PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE (CODE CURRENT THROUGH JULY 9, 2026)
Program	Applies to	Fee	Cycle	Source
Multi-Family Dwelling Registration	Complexes 5+ years old with 5+ units	Set by fee schedule; $25 re-issue on ownership change; $75 late; 10–50% surcharges after October 31	Annual, by October 31	Ch. 6, Art. III, Div. 3
Short-Term Rental registration	Any rental under 30 consecutive days	Set by fee schedule; training discount up to $100	Per registration; non-transferable; 30-day grace for buyers	Ch. 6, Art. XXIV
House, duplex or condo rented 30+ days	—	None	—	Code of Ordinances

What to keep in the file

For a qualifying complex: the registration certificate, the October 31 calendar entry, the unit count and the 24-hour emergency contact as filed.
After a sale: proof of the new registration within 30 days.
For a short stay: the STR registration number, the zoning determination, self-inspection records and the training certificate if claiming the discount.
For a house: a dated note that no registration applies and the lease clause that forbids short stays.

What changes in Plano

Apartment registration is triggered by age and size — five years and five units — and due every October 31, with steep surcharges for lateness.
The 2024 STR Code puts the warning on the platform and presumes the registrant allowed any listing found there.
The city offers up to $100 off STR registration for completing its training.
No registration for houses, duplexes or condos rented long-term.

Frequently asked questions

Which Plano apartment complexes must register?

Those “five (5) years old or older with five (5) or more dwelling units,” every year by October 31 (§§6-63 and 6-70).

What happens if a Plano multi-family registration is late?

Renewals after October 31 pay a surcharge of 10% within one month, 30% within two months and 50% thereafter; a new owner who misses the 30-day re-registration window pays a $75 late fee.

Does Plano require STR registration?

Yes. Article XXIV prohibits short-term rental without an active registration, requires platforms to say so, and makes operating without one an offence.

Do I need to register a rental house in Plano?

No. Houses, duplexes and condos rented for 30 days or more are outside both registration codes.

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.