Killeen, TX Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Killeen, TX, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Permit
- Required before renting or advertising
- Insurance
- $500,000 liability minimum
- Fee
- $200 first year, $100 renewal
- Renewal
- Annual; non-transferable permit
- Administered by
- Planning and Development Department
Summary
Every short-term rental in Killeen must hold a valid registration permit before it can be rented, leased, or even advertised. The city requires annual renewal, a paid inspection, and $500,000 in liability insurance. Operating without a permit is unlawful.
It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to rent, lease, advertise, offer to rent, or otherwise permit or allow any premises to be operated or used without a valid short term rental registration permit issued under this article.(b)A permit issued under this article may not be transferred and does not convey with the property upon sale. Each new owner of a permitted or previously permitted dwelling unit must apply for a short term rental permit to rent property under the short term rental guidelines.(c)It shall be unlawful for an owner or operator to rent, lease, advertise, or offer a short term rental for a period of less than twenty-four (24) hours.(d)Any advertising of a short term rental by the owner or any person or service shall conform to the provisions of this article and the property's approval. (Ord. No. 23-029, § I, 4-11-23)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Killeen Code of Ordinances Sec. 31-953 makes it unlawful to rent, lease, advertise, or offer any premises as a short-term rental (a stay of fewer than 30 days) without a valid registration permit. The Planning and Development Department administers the program; owners apply through the city's vendor, Neumo, submit proof of at least $500,000 in personal-injury liability insurance for the full permit term, and renew every year. First-year permits are $200 including the inspection fee, and renewals are $100. Owners must also collect and remit the city and county hotel occupancy tax. The permit is non-transferable and does not convey on sale, so each new owner must reapply.
Violations & Fines
Renting, leasing, advertising, or offering an unpermitted short-term rental is unlawful under Sec. 31-953 and draws code-enforcement citations and fines for operating without a license; a lapsed annual renewal voids the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Killeen?
What does a Killeen short-term rental permit cost?
Do I have to collect hotel occupancy tax?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Killeen
How Killeen compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Killeen to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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