Rental Rules by City / Free checklist / Austin

Is my Austin rental legal? Checklist

Travis County, Texas · Based on our Austin page, last verified Oct 24, 2026 · Print

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📋 The Basics

Can I rent my place short-term here?: Yes, with a license or tax registration
Do I need a permit?: Yes. You need a city license for each unit, good for two years.
What taxes do I pay?: Total about 17%. Airbnb says it collects these for you; you still pay them on bookings outside Airbnb.

Your 3 steps to be legal

Apply for the Austin STR operating license.
Confirm Airbnb is collecting the hotel tax.
File quarterly tax reports with the city.

⚠️ Biggest risk: Skipping the quarterly tax report even though Airbnb collects.

Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.

This is the general rule for Austin. Does your address qualify?

The free info covers the city as a whole. Your property can still be different: zoning can change from one street to the next, and an HOA or condo ban can stop rentals even where the city allows them.

Your $49 Compliance Check looks at your exact property:

Whether your exact address and zone allow short-term rentals
A check of HOA / condo rental restrictions to look for
Which permits and tax accounts you personally need
What you're missing right now
A personal report with clear next steps and official sources, by email
A refund if we report a rule in error (refund policy)

🔎 How we check: official city, county and state sources, a last-verified date on every page, and nothing guessed. Learn more

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Rules don't change every week, but they do change, and nobody emails you when they do. We'll alert you when city rules, tourist taxes, HOA-related laws, or Airbnb/Vrbo policies change in Austin. Cancel anytime.

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Permit / license / registration

License: A unit-specific STR operating license is required in Austin's Full and Limited Purpose jurisdictions (not the ETJ). Licenses are valid two years.
Platform collection: Platforms must collect and remit Austin HOT since April 1, 2025; owners still file quarterly HOT reports.
County taxes: Verify with the city / Travis County for any county venue tax.

Zoning, where allowed & definitions

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Night limits, minimum stays & occupancy

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Fees, penalties & pending changes

Fees: New STR: $736.60 including license and notification fees (per the city).

Taxes & who collects them

Register / account for Texas state hotel occupancy tax (6%)
Register / account for City of Austin HOT (9% + 2% venue) (11%)
What Airbnb collects: Airbnb collects the Texas 6% state HOT and Austin's 11% HOT.
Vrbo and direct bookings: check which taxes Vrbo collects in your area; for direct bookings you collect and remit all of them yourself.

Total rate: 17%. Austin HOT 11% = 9% occupancy + 2% venue project tax; Texas state HOT 6%. Calculate.

HOA / condo check

Read your declaration, bylaws and rules for rental bans, minimum terms, caps and approval requirements.
Get any association sign-off or approval letter your city or association requires.
See our HOA & condo guide.

Insurance

Confirm your homeowner/condo policy covers short-term rental use, or add a short-term rental policy. Platform host protection is not a substitute for insurance.
Ask your association whether it requires specific liability coverage.

Deadlines

Renew city/county permits or registrations on their schedule (often annually): confirm the date with the office that issued it.
File state and local lodging tax returns on the schedule your tax office assigns.

Official sources

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Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.