Short-term rentals are legally allowed in Manor, Texas, but they are strictly regulated under City Ordinance No. 799. The city defines an STR as any residential structure used for lodging for fewer than 30 consecutive days. For an arbitrage model, it is critical to verify the property's jurisdiction before signing a lease; if the home sits in an unincorporated area or Manor's Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), the city permit rules do not apply, but restrictive HOA covenants often still rule the land.

Key Requirements

• City Permit Required: You must submit a formal application and a non-refundable fee to the City Secretary's Office to obtain an annual Short-Term Rental Permit. Permits expire after one year and carry a $50 renewal fee.
• Owner Cooperation (Arbitrage Hurdle): The permit application specifically requires the property owner's name, address, email, and phone number. If the owner is an LLC or corporation, you must provide the details of a "natural person" legally authorized to act for the owner. Stealth arbitrage is not possible here.
• Neighbor Notification: Within 10 days of receiving your permit, you are legally required to provide written notice (via mail, email, or hand delivery) to all neighbors within 200 feet of the property. This notice must include your permit number, your contact info, and the city's STR website.

Operational and Safety Standards

• Safety Equipment: The unit must have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and every bedroom must feature a working window for emergency egress. You must also provide at least one working "Type A" fire extinguisher that has been professionally inspected within the last calendar year.
• Mandatory Postings: The city permit number must be conspicuously displayed at the physical entrance of the home and in all online advertisements (Airbnb/Vrbo descriptions). You must also post the occupancy limit, a parking plan, an evacuation floor plan, and a summary of local noise and parking rules inside the unit.
• Local Contact: You must designate a local contact person whose information is provided to all guests and posted prominently inside the rental.

Tax Obligations

• Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT): You must register, collect, and remit Hotel Occupancy Taxes to both the State of Texas (6%) and the local jurisdictions (Travis County/City of Manor).
• Tax Revocation: The ordinance strictly requires owners and operators to remain current on all hotel taxes; failure to pay is explicitly listed as grounds for immediate permit revocation.

Enforcement

• Non-Transferable: STR permits cannot be transferred or assigned to another person.
• Penalties: The city can deny or revoke your permit for submitting false information, having delinquent taxes, or accumulating repeated substantiated violations over a 24-month period.