6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Williamson County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
No STR permit is required in unincorporated Williamson County. Texas counties cannot zone or license short-term rentals, so no registration exists outside city limits. HOA deed restrictions are usually the real limit.
STR guests are bound by the same state law as everyone else: unreasonable noise near a residence is disorderly conduct under Tex. Penal Code §42.01, a Class C misdemeanor up to $500. The county has no STR-specific noise rule.
Tex. Penal Code §42.01
A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly: ... (5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy;
Short-term rentals owe Texas's 6% state hotel occupancy tax under Tex. Tax Code §156.052, plus Williamson County's county hotel tax. State law defines a 'hotel' to include short-term rentals, so hosts must collect and remit.
Tex. Tax Code §156.052
The rate of the tax imposed by this chapter is six percent of the price paid for a room in a hotel.
No STR parking rules exist in unincorporated Williamson County. The county cannot cap guest vehicles or require off-street parking for rentals. HOA covenants and recorded deed restrictions are the only enforceable limits.
Unincorporated Williamson County sets no STR occupancy limit. Counties can't zone or cap guests per rental, so no maximum-occupancy rule applies outside city limits. HOA covenants and septic capacity are the practical constraints.
No insurance is required to operate a short-term rental in unincorporated Williamson County. The county cannot mandate STR coverage; carrying homeowner or commercial short-term-rental insurance is a private, lender, or HOA decision.
2 cities in Williamson County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Williamson County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Williamson County Ordinance Hub →