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Short-Term Rentals in Travis County, TX (2026)

7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Travis County, Texas.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Travis County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Travis County does not require a short-term rental permit in unincorporated areas. Incorporated cities (Austin, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Pflugerville) each license STRs separately. State HOT registration with the TX Comptroller is required for all STR operators.

Short Term Rentals: Permit Requirements

Few Restrictions

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — Hotel Occupancy Tax (Tax Code Ch. 156, 351, 352)

Hotel Occupancy Tax Who is responsible for this tax? Hotel owners, operators or managers must collect state hotel occupancy tax from their guests who rent a room or space in a hotel costing $15 or more each day. The tax applies not only to hotels and motels, but also to bed and breakfasts, condominiums, apartments and houses. Local hotel taxes apply to sleeping rooms costing $2 or more each day...

Taxes & Fees

Travis County does NOT levy a county hotel occupancy tax on STRs. Operators pay 6% Texas state HOT to the Comptroller plus any city HOT (Austin 11%, Bee Cave 7%, Lakeway 7%). Platforms auto-collect in most cases.

Short Term Rentals: Taxes Fees

Few Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code Sec. 156.001, 156.052

Sec. 156.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter, "hotel" means a building in which members of the public obtain sleeping accommodations for consideration. The term includes a hotel, motel, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn, rooming house, or bed and breakfast. (b) For purposes of the imposition of a hotel occupancy tax under this chapter, Chapter 351 or 352, or other...

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Travis County does not regulate STR parking in unincorporated areas. Guests generally park on-site; county roads allow on-street parking unless posted. Austin STRs must provide one off-street space per bedroom.

Short Term Rentals: Parking Rules

Few Restrictions

Tex. Transp. Code Sec. 545.302 (Stopping, Standing, or Parking Prohibited in Certain Places)

Sec. 545.302. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PLACES. (a) An operator may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle:(1) on the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;(2) on a sidewalk;(3) in an intersection;(4) on a crosswalk;(5) between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of a place on the curb immediately opposite th...

Night Caps

Travis County does not cap STR rental nights. Austin Type 2 STRs are currently limited to non-owner-occupied rental with no annual night cap; owner-occupied Type 1 has no limit.

Short Term Rentals: Night Caps

Few Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code Sec. 156.051-156.052 (Tax Imposed; Rate of Tax)

Sec. 156.051. TAX IMPOSED. (a) A tax is imposed on a person who, under a lease, concession, permit, right of access, license, contract, or agreement, pays for the use or possession or for the right to the use or possession of a room or space in a hotel costing $15 or more each day.(b) The price of a room in a hotel does not include the cost of food served by the hotel and the cost of person...

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Travis County does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Investor-owned and second-home STRs are permitted across unincorporated areas, consistent with Texas HB 1620 statewide preemption of ownership-status conditions.

No Primary-Residence Requirement for STRs

Few Restrictions

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — Hotel Occupancy Tax (Tax Code Ch. 156)

Hotel Occupancy Tax Who is responsible for this tax? Hotel owners, operators or managers must collect state hotel occupancy tax from their guests who rent a room or space in a hotel costing $15 or more each day. The tax applies not only to hotels and motels, but also to bed and breakfasts, condominiums, apartments and houses. Local hotel taxes apply to sleeping rooms costing $2 or more each day...

Extended Home Share

Travis County does not cap home-share length or distinguish extended stays from short stays. Hosts can rent rooms or whole homes for any duration, subject only to Texas hotel occupancy tax thresholds for stays under 30 days.

Extended Home-Share Rentals Unregulated

Few Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code Sec. 156.001, 156.101

Sec. 156.101. EXCEPTION--PERMANENT RESIDENT. This chapter does not impose a tax on a person who has the right to use or possess a room or space in a hotel for at least 30 consecutive days, so long as there is no interruption of payment for the period. Sec. 156.001(b) For purposes of the imposition of a hotel occupancy tax under this chapter... "hotel" includes a short-term rental.

Host Platform Liability

Texas Tax Code 156.103 requires marketplace facilitators like Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit state hotel occupancy tax on Travis County stays. Hosts remain responsible if the platform fails to collect on a booking.

Platforms Bear Hotel-Tax Collection Duty

Light Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code Sec. 156.001, 156.053

Sec. 156.053. COLLECTION OF TAX. A person owning, operating, managing, or controlling a hotel shall collect for the state the tax that is imposed by this chapter and that is calculated on the amount paid for a room in the hotel. Sec. 156.001(b) For purposes of the imposition of a hotel occupancy tax under this chapter, Chapter 351 or 352, or other law, "hotel" includes a short-term rental.

Short-Term Rentals by City in Travis County

1 cities in Travis County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

All Travis County ordinances

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