Rental Rules by City / Free checklist / San Antonio

Is my San Antonio rental legal? Checklist

Bexar County, Texas · Based on our San Antonio 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 STR permit (Type 1 if you live there, Type 2 if not).
What taxes do I pay?: Total about 17%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.

Your 3 steps to be legal

Pick Type 1 or Type 2.
Apply for the city permit.
Pay hotel tax by the end of the next month.

⚠️ Biggest risk: Late hotel tax: penalties and interest.

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

This is the general rule for San Antonio. 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. The penalties San Antonio lists are on the San Antonio page.

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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
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Permit / license / registration

Permit: A City STR permit is required: Type 1 (owner/operator-occupied, incl. ADUs) or Type 2 (not owner-occupied).
HOT filing: Report and pay HOT by the last day of the following month; 5% penalties at months 2 and 3 plus 10%/yr interest.
Exemption: Guests staying 30+ consecutive days are exempt from city/county HOT.

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: Permits last 3 years; reported fees $300 (Type 1) and $450 (Type 2): verify with Development Services.

Taxes & who collects them

Register / account for Texas state hotel occupancy tax (6%)
Register / account for City of San Antonio HOT (9%)
Register / account for Bexar County HOT (collected by city) (2%)
What Airbnb collects: What Airbnb collects here: verify on Airbnb's local tax help pages and in your payout reports; you remain responsible for any tax it does not collect.
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%. City page: 9% city (7% general + 2% Convention Center) and 2% for Bexar County, plus 6% state. Monthly online filing even with zero receipts. 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.