Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.
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.
To host an Airbnb in South Padre Island, you must first register your property with the city's Finance Department and pay a $350 permit fee. You'll need to provide a local contact person who can respond to issues 24/7 and ensure your property passes a fire safety inspection. Even if your booking platform (like Airbnb) collects taxes for you, you are still required to file quarterly tax reports to the city. Failure to register or display your permit number in your listing can result in fines of $500 per day.
Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.
Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM