Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Austin repealed its owner-occupancy classification on October 1, 2025. Non-owner-occupied and leased short-term rentals are allowed citywide under City Code Chapter 4-23; every unit still needs an operator's license, but there is no primary-residence requirement.
Austin Doesn't Limit Short-Term Rentals to Primary Residences
Some RestrictionsAustin City Code § 4-23-31 (Eligibility to Operate a Short-Term Rental)
An operator must own or lease the housing unit that will be operated as a short-term rental. On a site with three or fewer housing units, an individual can operate up to two short-term rentals. Except as provided in Subsection (D), an individual may operate short-term rentals on more than one site if the sites are located at least 1,000 feet apart.