Houston's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Houston, Texas, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Houston adopted STR regulations in April 2025 (Ord. 2025-322), effective January 1, 2026. All STRs require a Certificate of Registration ($275 fee plus $33.10 admin fee). As of April 2026, platforms must remove unregistered listings.

Key details: Ordinance: Ord. 2025-322. Effective: January 1, 2026. Registration Fee: $275 + $33.10 admin. Penalty: $100–$500/day. Renewal: Annual.

Operating without a Certificate of Registration: $100–$500 per day of violation. Two or more noise citations within 12 months may result in certificate revocation. Three or more revocations for the same owner within 24 months triggers revocation of all remaining certificates.

Repeat Violator Strikes

Houston can revoke every short-term rental certificate an owner or operator holds citywide if three or more of their individual certificates are revoked within any 24-month period.

Key details: Strike threshold: 3+ revoked certificates, same owner. Look-back window: Any 24 consecutive months. Effect: All remaining certificates face revocation. Appeal path: Hearing under section 28-735. Reapply bar: 1 year for that property.

Violating short-term rental rules risks certificate revocation under section 28-733(a); three or more owner/operator revocations within 24 months trigger citywide revocation proceedings under section 28-733(b), on top of the article's base fine of $100 to $500 per day under section 28-723.

This is one of the stricter rules in Houston's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Taxes & Fees

Houston STR operators owe a combined 17% hotel occupancy tax: 6% state, 7% city, 2% Harris County, and 2% Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. Major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo auto-collect both state and city portions.

Key details: State HOT: 6%. City HOT: 7%. County + Sports: 2% + 2%. Total: Up to 17%. Auto-Collect: Airbnb & Vrbo.

Failure to collect or remit HOT: back taxes plus penalties and interest. TX Comptroller may assess penalties of 5% to 25% for late filing. Operating an STR without a Certificate of Registration: $100 to $500 per day.

Host Platform Liability

Texas does not impose statutory liability on Airbnb, Vrbo, or similar platforms for unregistered host listings. Houston's 2024 STR ordinance regulates operators directly, not the marketplace. Platform tax-collection agreements remain voluntary, though all major platforms collect Texas state hotel occupancy tax.

Key details: Platform mandate: None in TX or Houston. Operator duty: Register and remit HOT. State HOT collection: Voluntary platform agreements. Local HOT collection: Varies by platform. Severity: Permissive: no platform rule.

Enforcement runs against the operator, not the platform. Operators face citations, hotel occupancy tax deficiencies, deed-restriction suits, and Chapter 125 common-nuisance actions for repeated violations.

Houston is more permissive than most cities when it comes to host platform liability. That said, there are still limits.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Houston's STR ordinance (Ord. 2025-322) does not impose specific off-street parking requirements for STRs beyond standard residential parking rules. Street parking is subject to the 24-hour limit under Chapter 26.

Key details: STR Parking Mandate: None in ordinance. Street Limit: 24-hour max (Ch. 26). Tow Threshold: 48+ hours on street. Deed Restrictions: May add rules.

Street parking over 24 hours: citation. Over 48 hours: towing. Blocking driveways, fire lanes, or sidewalks: immediate citation or tow.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Houston gives residents more flexibility on short-term rental parking rules.

Noise Rules

STR guests must comply with Chapter 30 sound limits (58 dBA nighttime residential). Two or more noise citations within 12 months may result in the operator's Certificate of Registration being revoked under Ord. 2025-322.

Key details: Night Limit: 58 dBA residential. Events: Prohibited at STRs. Revocation: 2+ noise citations in 12 months. Contact: 24-hour emergency required.

Up to $2,000 per noise violation under Chapter 30. Two or more noise citations within 12 months: STR certificate revocation. Three or more revocations for same owner within 24 months: all certificates may be revoked.

Occupancy Limits

Houston's 2025 STR ordinance (Chapter 28, Art. XXIII) regulates short-term rentals citywide. The ordinance defines STRs as dwellings rented for less than 30 consecutive days and requires a certificate of registration. Specific occupancy caps are tied to the property's capacity as determined during registration.

Key details: Ordinance: Houston Code Ch. 28, Art. XXIII (adopted April 2025). Registration Fee: $275 + $33.10 admin fee, renewed annually. Events: Special events at STRs prohibited. Enforcement Start: January 1, 2026. Penalty: $100-$500/day for unregistered operation.

Operating without a certificate of registration: $100-$500 per day. Two or more noise citations within 12 months results in registration revocation. Three revocations in 24 months may trigger revocation of all certificates held by that owner.

Houston is more permissive than most cities when it comes to occupancy limits. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Houston gives residents more room on short-term rentals. 3 of the 7 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Houston can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.