Baytown, TX Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Baytown, TX, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- City Permit
- Not required
- State Law
- HB 2127 preempts local STR regulation
- State Tax
- 6% hotel occupancy tax required
- Registration
- Texas Comptroller for tax collection
- Contact
- (281) 420-6530 Planning
Summary
Baytown has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental ordinance or permit requirement. Texas state law (HB 2127, effective September 2023) preempts cities from regulating short-term rentals more restrictively than state law allows. Properties used for short-term rental through Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms must comply with general property maintenance codes and hotel occupancy tax requirements.
Sec. 351.0025. EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION. (a) A municipality with a population of less than 35,000 by ordinance may impose the tax authorized under Section 351.002 in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction.(b) The municipality may not impose a tax under this section if as a result of the adoption the combined rate of state, county, and municipal hotel occupancy taxes in the extraterritorial jurisdiction exceeds 15 percent of the price paid for a room in a hotel. Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 328, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 26, 1991. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 680, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Sec. 351.003. TAX RATES. (a) Except as provided by this section, the tax
Full Breakdown
Baytown has not enacted a specific short-term rental licensing or permitting ordinance. Texas HB 2127 (the 'Death Star' preemption bill, effective September 1, 2023) significantly limits municipal authority to regulate short-term rentals. While some Texas cities enacted STR regulations before HB 2127, Baytown did not have such regulations in place. STR operators must register with the Texas Comptroller's Office to collect and remit state hotel occupancy tax (6%) and any applicable local hotel occupancy tax. Properties must comply with Baytown's property maintenance and nuisance codes. No specific STR registration, inspection, or annual permit is required by the City of Baytown. Contact Baytown Planning at (281) 420-6530 for current regulatory status.
Violations & Fines
While no STR-specific permit violations exist, STR properties must comply with all property maintenance codes, nuisance ordinances, and parking regulations. Failure to collect and remit hotel occupancy taxes is enforced by the Texas Comptroller. Code Enforcement at (281) 420-6585 addresses property maintenance and nuisance complaints at STR properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to list my Baytown property on Airbnb?
Does Texas law allow Baytown to regulate short-term rentals?
What taxes do I owe on short-term rental income in Baytown?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baytown
How Baytown compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Baytown to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle short-term rental permits.