New Braunfels, TX Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in New Braunfels, TX, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Permit scope
- Required in every zoning district
- Special use permit
- Also required outside C-4/C-4A/C-4B
- Application fee
- One-time fee per Appendix D
- Application expiration
- 45 days if incomplete/unpaid
- Unpermitted STR fee
- $2,000 non-compliance fee
- Appeal window
- 30 days to planning commission
Summary
Every short-term rental in New Braunfels needs a city permit before it can operate legally, no matter the zoning district, and most also need a discretionary special use permit under Sec. 144-5.17-3(c)-(d). The written application goes to Planning and Development Services with a one-time fee, proof of hotel occupancy tax compliance, a parking sketch, a floor plan and a 24-hour contact.
(c)Short term rental permit. A short term rental permit is required in all zoning districts. Subject to subsection 144-5.17-5, an owner shall obtain and maintain a current permit for all short term rentals as defined in this chapter...5.17-5. Short term rental permit.(a)Application. Application for a short term rental permit shall be in writing on an application form available in the planning and development services department, shall be accompanied by a one-time payment of the fee per appendix D of this Code and shall include the following information, at a minimum:...(5)Proof of hotel occupancy tax compliance with V.T.C.A., Tax Code ch. 351, before permit is granted...(b)Completeness of application. If the application is incomplete or the full fee has not been paid, the planning director shall notify the applicant in writing, within ten business days of the date of the application, that the application is incomplete...If the full fee is not paid or the application is not compete within 45 days of the date of the application, the application shall expire.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 17-3(d) requires in all districts except C-4, C-4A and C-4B for a single-family home or duplex. The permit application under Sec. A. Tax Code ch. 351, and a signed statement of ongoing compliance. Under Sec. 17-5(b), an incomplete application or unpaid fee gets a written notice from the planning director within ten business days, and the whole application expires if it is not completed and paid within 45 days of filing. Permits renew annually if the owner passes a fire marshal inspection, proves the previous year's hotel occupancy taxes were paid, keeps current insurance and has no outstanding city fees, code violations or repeat-offense findings. A denied application or a denied/revoked renewal can be appealed to the planning commission in writing within 30 days under Sec. 17-5(f).
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without the required permit triggers a $2,000.00 non-compliance fee under Sec. 144-5.17-7(g), separate from the $500.00 to $2,000.00 per-day fine for occupancy in violation of the section. An expired, incomplete or unpaid application is treated as if no application was ever filed, and the property cannot legally operate as a short-term rental until a new permit is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every New Braunfels short-term rental need a permit?
What has to be in a New Braunfels STR permit application?
What happens if I operate without a permit in New Braunfels?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Braunfels
How New Braunfels compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Texas rules heatmap·Compare New Braunfels to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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