Texas Short-Term Rental Regulations by City

The City of Lakeway requires all short-term rentals (stays less than 30 days) to obtain a biennial license and pass a fire safety inspection. The city imposes a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to the state's 6% rate, and occupancy is strictly limited based on the number of bedrooms.

Austin significantly overhauled its short-term rental rules in September 2025, moving to a biennial licensing system and requiring $1M in liability insurance. The city requires a valid license for all rentals under 30 days, and major platforms now collect and remit the 11% city hotel occupancy tax.

The City of Fredericksburg strictly regulates short-term rentals via Appendix B, Section 5.405 of the zoning code, categorizing them into three types based on owner occupancy. All hosts must obtain an annual permit, undergo a safety inspection, and collect a 7% local occupancy tax that platforms do not automatically remit.

The City of Wimberley requires a Short-Term Rental Permit for all rentals under 30 days, governed by Article 9.07 of the Municipal Code. The city distinguishes between owner-occupied (Type 1) and non-owner occupied (Type 2) rentals, the latter of which is subject to a strict city-wide density cap.

Short-term rentals in Lubbock require annual registration with the city and are restricted to owner-occupied primary residences or legal accessory dwelling units within residential zones.

College Station requires a permit for all short-term rentals and limits investor-owned properties to specific commercial and multi-family zoning districts.

The City of Frisco requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain an annual permit and pay a $300 fee. Hosts must collect and remit a 7% city occupancy tax monthly in addition to the 6% state tax. Regulations include mandatory safety equipment, emergency contact posting, and a prohibition on renting to individuals under 21 years of age.

Dallas currently requires short-term rental registration and a 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax. While the city passed a strict ordinance in 2023 that would have banned STRs in single-family residential zones, a June 2024 court injunction has temporarily blocked the city from enforcing those zoning restrictions and certain operational rules.

The City of Rockport requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual permit and undergo a safety inspection. Hosts must collect and remit a combined 10% local Hotel Occupancy Tax (8% City, 2% County) in addition to state taxes.

Short-term rentals in the City of San Antonio are regulated under Chapter 16 of the Municipal Code, requiring a permit that must be renewed every two years. The city distinguishes between Type 1 (owner-occupied) and Type 2 (non-owner occupied) rentals, with Type 2 permits subject to density limits in certain residential zones.

The City of Horseshoe Bay regulates short-term rentals through Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code, requiring an annual permit and a safety inspection. Hosts must collect 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to the 6% state tax and designate a 24/7 local contact.

Short-term rentals in the City of Blanco are regulated through the Unified Development Code and require an annual permit fee of $150. Hosts must collect and remit a 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to the 6% Texas state tax.

The City of Arlington requires all short-term rentals to obtain an annual permit and restricts their operation primarily to a specific Entertainment District overlay zone. Hosts must remit a 9% local Hotel Occupancy Tax quarterly and pass a mandatory fire safety inspection.

Short-term rentals in Fort Worth are only legally permitted in non-residential zones, such as mixed-use, commercial, and industrial districts. Hosts must register annually with the Code Compliance Department, pay a $150 fee, and remit a 9% local Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to state taxes.

The City of Galveston requires all short-term rentals to register annually and pay a $250 fee. Hosts must collect and remit a 9% local Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) in addition to the 6% state tax.

The City of South Padre Island requires all short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) to register annually and pay a $350 initial fee. Hosts are responsible for a total 17% Hotel Occupancy Tax, which includes city, venue, and state portions.

The City of Marble Falls requires all short-term rentals to obtain an annual permit and undergo a fire safety inspection. Hosts must collect and remit a 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) in addition to Texas state taxes.

Short-term rentals in New Braunfels are strictly regulated and prohibited in R-1 and R-2 single-family residential zones. Hosts in allowed zones must obtain an annual permit, pass a fire inspection, and remit a 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to state taxes.

Short-term rentals in Denton, TX require an annual registration, compliance with safety standards, and payment of local and state hotel occupancy taxes.

The City of Corpus Christi requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual permit and register for local Hotel Occupancy Tax. The ordinance, effective since 2022, mandates occupancy limits and a 24/7 local contact who can respond to issues within one hour.

Port Aransas requires all short-term rentals to register annually and pay a $250 fee. The city enforces strict occupancy limits and requires hosts to remit a 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax monthly.

Short-term rentals in Irving are permitted citywide but require mandatory annual registration, compliance with occupancy and parking limits, and payment of hotel occupancy taxes.

Laredo requires short-term rental operators to obtain an annual permit, follow safety standards, and pay a total of 14% in hotel occupancy taxes.

Garland requires short-term rentals to obtain an annual single-family permit, pay a $500 fee, and adhere to strict landline and parking requirements.

Amarillo requires a short-term rental permit from the Planning Department, a life-safety inspection, and a $500,000 liability insurance policy.

The City of Brownsville requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual permit and remit monthly hotel occupancy taxes as of November 2024.

Short-term rentals in Denton require annual registration, are subject to a 1,000-permit citywide cap in residential zones, and must adhere to a 100-foot buffer between STR properties.

Killeen requires mandatory annual registration, life safety inspections, and a 15% total hotel occupancy tax for all short-term rentals.

Short-term rentals in the Lake Texoma region are governed by a combination of Grayson County fire safety codes and specific municipal ordinances in cities like Pottsboro and Denison.

Round Rock requires a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for short-term rentals and formal registration for Hotel Occupancy Tax collection.

Midland requires short-term rental operators to register through a city-mandated portal and remit a 7% local hotel occupancy tax.

Lewisville regulates short-term rentals through an annual permit system with a citywide cap of 150 active permits and strict distance requirements.

Abilene does not have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance but mandates registration for and remittance of Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT).

Short-term rentals in Richardson are allowed citywide but require mandatory annual registration and the collection of a 7% city hotel occupancy tax.

Short-term rentals in Beaumont are required to obtain an annual operating permit, pass a safety inspection, and remit a total of 15% in hotel occupancy taxes.

Short-term rentals in San Marcos are permitted citywide but strictly regulated through a two-tier permit system based on zoning and proximity.

The City of El Paso does not currently have a dedicated short-term rental permit or ordinance. However, all hosts are legally required to register and remit a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) to the city, in addition to Texas state-level taxes.

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Bexar County are unregulated at the local level due to Texas state laws limiting county authority. No land-use permit or zoning permission is required from the county to operate. The only mandatory requirement is the registration for and payment of the 1.75% County Hotel Occupancy Tax for stays under 30 days.

Unincorporated Comal County does not require a specific short-term rental permit or license. Hosts are primarily regulated via the collection of the 7% County Hotel Occupancy Tax and adherence to State of Texas tax requirements.

Unincorporated Kendall County does not currently have a land-use permit or registration requirement specifically for short-term rentals. However, all hosts must register with the County Auditor to collect and remit the 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) in addition to the 6% State HOT.

Kerrville does not currently have a dedicated short-term rental land-use ordinance or a specific STR permit system. However, all hosts must register with the City Finance Department to pay the 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax on all stays of less than 30 days.

The City of Houston does not have a dedicated short-term rental permit or ordinance. However, hosts are legally required to register with the City to pay a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax on stays of less than 30 days.

The City of Bandera does not have a dedicated ordinance regulating or requiring permits for short-term rentals beyond standard 'Bed and Breakfast' rules. However, hosts must register with the city and remit a 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to the state-level tax.

The City of Bastrop does not have a dedicated short-term rental permit or ordinance but regulates them through the 'B3' zoning code. STRs are generally permitted in most residential zones (P3-P5), though hosts must register with the Finance Department to collect and remit the 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax.

Unincorporated Hays County does not currently require a specific short-term rental permit or license. However, hosts are legally required to register for and remit a 7% County Hotel Occupancy Tax on all rentals under 30 days.

The City of Canyon Lake does not currently have a dedicated short-term rental permit or registration system. However, hosts are legally required to register with the City and remit a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax on all stays under 30 days.

The City of Boerne does not have a specific Short-Term Rental (STR) ordinance or permit system. However, hosts are required to register with the Finance Department and remit a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax on all stays of less than 30 days.

Unincorporated Harris County does not have a formal short-term rental permit or licensing system due to limitations on county authority under Texas state law. However, hosts are legally required to register with the Harris County Tax Office and remit a 2% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) on all stays under 30 days.

Dripping Springs does not have a specific short-term rental permit or ordinance. However, all hosts are required to register for and remit a 7% City Hotel Occupancy Tax for stays under 30 days.

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Travis County are currently unregulated regarding land use or operational permits, as Texas counties lack the statutory authority to license STRs. However, hosts must comply with state and county tax requirements, including a 7% County Hotel Occupancy Tax and a 6% State tax.

McKinney focuses on Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) compliance for short-term rentals rather than restrictive licensing or zoning caps.

Huntsville, TX regulates short-term rentals primarily through the collection of a 7% local Hotel Occupancy Tax, with no specific STR-only permit or zoning restrictions currently in effect.

Short-term rentals in Stephenville are defined by the municipal code and require tax registration and compliance with strict occupancy limits regarding unrelated individuals.