Short-term rental rules vary by city in Bell County

In Texas, cities set their own short-term rental rules. The state does not. In Killeen, the City Council approved a short-term rental registration program in October 2023. You must get a city permit before renting. Permits must be renewed each year. The property must be inspected before a permit is issued or renewed. Killeen also requires owners to carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance and to collect and pay hotel occupancy taxes.

In Belton, the City Council adopted a short-term rental ordinance in March 2023. Belton has a spacing rule: a non-owner-occupied rental cannot be within 500 feet of another short-term rental property.

Unincorporated Bell County does not have county-wide short-term rental rules. But operating a short-term rental anywhere in the county triggers the state hotel occupancy tax. In cities that have their own tax, you pay that too. Before buying a home to rent short-term, check the current rules for that city. Rules can change. Find Killeen's program at killeentexas.gov and Belton's at beltontexas.gov.