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Fort Worth, TX Code of Ordinances
FORT WORTH, TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES
OFFICIALS of the CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
PART I: THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
PART II: CITY CODE
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 2.5: RETIREMENT
CHAPTER 3: AIRPORTS AND AIRCRAFT
CHAPTER 4: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
CHAPTER 5: AMBULANCES/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
CHAPTER 6: ANIMALS AND FOWL
CHAPTER 7: BUILDINGS
ARTICLE I: IN GENERAL
ARTICLE II: INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE
ARTICLE III: INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE
ARTICLE IIIA: INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE
ARTICLE IV: MINIMUM BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
ARTICLE V: INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE
ARTICLE VI: FALLOUT SHELTERS
ARTICLE VII: MOVEMENT AND DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
ARTICLE VIII: FLOODPLAIN PROVISIONS
ARTICLE IX: STANDARDS, REGISTRATION, AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR MULTIFAMILY DWELLING COMPLEXES
ARTICLE X: REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION OF ONE-FAMILY AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS
ARTICLE XI: EXISTING BUILDING CODE
ARTICLE XII: INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODE
ARTICLE XIII: SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION
CHAPTER 8: CABLE COMMUNICATION SERVICE
CHAPTER 9: COMMUNITY FACILITIES AGREEMENTS
CHAPTER 10: COURTS
CHAPTER 11: ELECTRICITY
CHAPTER 11.5: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 12: EMERGENCY REPORTING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 12.5: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COMPLIANCE
CHAPTER 13: FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
CHAPTER 14: RESERVED
CHAPTER 15: GAS
CHAPTER 16: HEALTH AND SANITATION
CHAPTER 17: HUMAN RELATIONS
CHAPTER 18: LAKE WORTH
CHAPTER 19: LIBRARIES
CHAPTER 20: LICENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 21: RESERVED
CHAPTER 22: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 23: OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 24: PARK AND RECREATION
CHAPTER 25: RESERVED
CHAPTER 26: PLUMBING
CHAPTER 27: POLICE
CHAPTER 28: PUBLIC UTILITIES
CHAPTER 29: SIGNS
CHAPTER 29.5: SMOKING
CHAPTER 30: STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
CHAPTER 31: SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 32: TAXATION
CHAPTER 33: TREES, SHRUBS, ETC.
CHAPTER 34: VEHICLES FOR HIRE
CHAPTER 35: WATER AND SEWERS
CHAPTER 36: RESERVED
APPENDIX A: ZONING REGULATIONS
APPENDIX B: CODE COMPLIANCE
APPENDIX C: RESERVED
CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE
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§ 7-453 DEFINITIONS.
   ADMINISTRATOR means the director of the department designated by the city manager to enforce and administer this article, including the director's designees.
   ADVERTISE means the act of drawing the public's attention to a short-term rental in order to promote the availability of the residence for use as a short-term rental. Said advertising may be found in any medium, including but not limited to, newspaper, magazine, brochure, website, or mobile application.
   BEDROOM means the living area(s) of the dwelling unit that is designed and furnished for sleeping and which has proper egress as required by the International Residential Code.
   BOOKING SERVICE means any reservation and/or payment service provided by a person or entity that facilitates a short-term rental transaction between an owner and a prospective occupant, and for which the person or entity collects or receives, directly or indirectly through an agent or intermediary, a fee in connection with the reservation and/or payment services provided for the short-term rental transaction.
   HOSTING PLATFORM means a person or entity that participates in the short-term rental business by providing, and collecting or receiving a fee for, booking services through which an owner may offer premises for an occupant on a short-term basis. hosting platforms usually, though not necessarily, provide booking services through an online platform that allows an owner to advertise the premises through a website provided by the hosting platform and the hosting platform conducts a transaction by which potential occupants arrange their use and their payment, whether the would-be occupant pays rent directly to the owner or to the hosting platform.
   OCCUPANT means any individual person living, sleeping or possessing a building, or portion thereof. A person is not required to be paying rent, providing in-kind services, or named in any lease, contract or other legal document to be considered an occupant.
   OWNER means any person, agent, operator, firm, trust, corporation, partnership, or any other legal entity who has a legal or equitable interest in the property; or who is recorded in the official records of the county as holding title to the property; or who otherwise has control of the property, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court.
   PREMISES means for the purposes of this article property, a lot, plot or parcel of land, including any structures or portions of structures thereon.
   SHORT-TERM RENTAL (STR) means the rental for compensation of dwellings or accessory dwelling units or portions thereof for the purpose of overnight lodging for a period of not less than one night and not more than 29 consecutive days other than ongoing month-to-month tenancy granted to the same renter for the same unit as their primary residence. This is not applicable to hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts homes or bed and breakfast inns or rentals made for less than 30 days upon the sale of a dwelling when the tenancy is by the former owner.
(Ord. 26005-02-2023, § 1, passed 2-14-2023, eff. 2-28-2023)
DIVISION 2: GENERAL REGULATIONS
§ 7-454 UNREGISTERED SHORT-TERM RENTALS PROHIBITED.
   It shall be unlawful for any owner or person to rent, lease, advertise, or otherwise permit or allow any premises to be operated or used as an unregistered short-term rental in accordance with this article.
(Ord. 26005-02-2023, § 1, passed 2-14-2023, eff. 2-28-2023)
§ 7-455 SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
   An owner who desires to use its premises as a short-term rental must have a valid, active short-term rental registration from the city prior to using, allowing the use of, or advertising the use of said premises as a short-term rental. Upon application to the city, a short-term rental permit may only be approved by administrator, or designee, if the application satisfies all the conditions of this article, the "Taxation" chapter, and the "Zoning Ordinance" of the City Code.
(Ord. 26005-02-2023, § 1, passed 2-14-2023, eff. 2-28-2023)
§ 7-456 EXPIRATION OF REGISTRATION; RENEWALS.
   A short-term rental registration shall expire on the last day of the month one year after the date of issuance. No short-term rental registration may be renewed without a completed renewal application submitted by the owner and payment of the renewal fee. An application for the renewal of a short-term rental registration may only be approved by the administrator, or designee, if the renewal application satisfies all the conditions of this article and all other applicable City Code provisions, including the Zoning Ordinance.
(Ord. 26005-02-2023, § 1, passed 2-14-2023, eff. 2-28-2023)
§ 7-457 REQUIREMENTS OF REGISTRATION APPLICATION.
   (a)   Except as provided in this section, every complete application for a short-term rental registration shall include the following information with such detail and in a form approved by the administrator:
      (1)   The physical/street address of the short-term rental;
      (2)   The name, address, email address(es), phone number(s) and authenticated signature for the owner(s) of the premises and the corporation owner's representative as applicable;
      (3)   The name, address, email address and phone number(s) of the operator(s), agent(s) if any, and designated local responsible party as required in § 7-458;
      (4)   Such certifications deemed necessary and proper to ensure compliance with this article.
   (b)   An application for a short-term renewal registration may be filed beginning 30 days prior to expiration of a current registration. Every complete application for a short-term rental renewal registration shall include updates, if any, to the information contained in the original registration application or any subsequent renewals. The registration holder shall sign a statement affirming that there is either no change to such information, or that any updated information is accurate and complete. The administrator may require such certifications deemed necessary and proper to ensure continuing compliance with this section.
   (c)   An application for a short-term rental renewal registration submitted after the expiration of the most immediate registration for the premises shall be treated as an application for a new registration as described in subsection (a) of this section.
   (d)   Applications shall not be considered complete until all documentation required under this article is submitted, and until the full application and registration fees have been paid. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
(Ord. 26005-02-2023, § 1, passed 2-14-2023, eff. 2-28-2023)
§ 7-458 DESIGNATION OF LOCAL RESPONSIBLE PARTY REQUIRED.
   An owner must designate the name and contact information of a local responsible party who can be contacted regarding immediate concerns and complaints from the public. The person designated may be the owner or another individual. The owner or individual must be available to be reached in person or by phone at all times while occupants are on the premises of a short-term rental. If called, a local responsible party must be able to and shall be present at the premises within one hour of call from administrator, or his designee. A local responsible party must be authorized to make decisions regarding the premises and its occupants.
(Ord. 26005-02-2023, § 1, passed 2-14-2023, eff. 2-28-2023)
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