Step 1
Obtain State Sales Tax Permit
Register with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to receive a Sales Tax Permit, which is required for hotel occupancy reporting.
1-2 weeksFree
Official resourceCross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.
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.
To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Travis County, you do not need a special zoning permit or STR license. You are free to rent your property without a 'cap' on nights or residency requirements. Your primary responsibility is tax compliance: you must register with the County Tax Office and the State Comptroller to pay Hotel Occupancy Taxes, which total 13%. Always check with your HOA, as they are legally allowed to ban STRs even if the county does not.
Step-by-step guide for Travis County
Register with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to receive a Sales Tax Permit, which is required for hotel occupancy reporting.
Contact the Travis County Tax Office to set up a Hotel Occupancy Tax account for reporting.
File the Hotel Occupancy Tax Report every quarter with Travis County and pay the 7% tax on gross receipts.
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 Details may be outdated or incomplete.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