Bexar County, TX Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Bexar County, TX, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Registration
- Not required
- Zoning
- No county zoning
- ETJ
- SA city rules may apply
- Septic
- OSSF permit required
Summary
Bexar County has no STR registration or permitting requirements. Texas counties cannot zone or regulate land use. Only state hotel occupancy tax collection applies. Properties in San Antonio's ETJ may face some city requirements.
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. [...] Persons leasing their houses must collect hotel occupancy tax from their customers in the same way a hotel or motel collects the tax from its guests. Property management companies, online travel companies and other third-party rental companies may also be responsible for collecting the tax. [...] The state hotel occupancy tax rate is 6 percent (.06) of the cost of a room. Cities and certain counties and special purpose districts are authorized to impose an additional local hotel tax that the local taxing authority collects.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Texas counties lack zoning authority and cannot regulate short-term rental operations. In unincorporated Bexar County, there are no STR registration, permitting, or operational requirements. Properties not within any city's Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) operate with minimal regulation. However, properties within San Antonio's ETJ may be subject to some city requirements: contact San Antonio Planning & Development Services to verify. STR operators must collect and remit applicable hotel occupancy taxes. Building standards under the 2021 IFC/IBC apply to any structural modifications. OSSF (septic) systems must be properly permitted.
Violations & Fines
No county STR violations. HOT non-collection subject to state penalties. OSSF violations enforced by county Environmental Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to list my property on Airbnb in Bexar County?
What are the short-term rental registration requirements in Bexar County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bexar County
How Bexar County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Bexar County to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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