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Travis County, TX Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified April 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in Travis County, TX, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

County permit
Not required
State HOT
6% TX Comptroller
Austin license
Required in city limits
Lakeway
Registration required
Deed/HOA
May prohibit

Summary

Travis County does not require a short-term rental permit in unincorporated areas. Incorporated cities (Austin, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Pflugerville) each license STRs separately. State HOT registration with the TX Comptroller is required for all STR operators.

City-specific rules exist: Austin has its own short-term rental permits rules that differ from Travis County's county-level regulations. If you live in Austin, check the city-specific page instead.

Hotel Occupancy Tax Who is responsible for this tax? 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. [...] Rates 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. Due Date Monthly: 20th day of the month following the end of each calendar month (for example, April 20 for March activity). Quarterly (if qualified): 20th day of the month following end of the calendar quarter (for example, April 20 for first quarter activity). Penalties and Interest Penalties A $50 penalty is assessed on each report filed after the due date. If tax is paid 1-30 days after the due date, a 5 percent penalty is assessed. If tax is paid over 30 days after the due date, a 10 percent penalty is assessed.

Source: TX Comptroller HOTView official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

Because Texas counties lack general regulatory authority, Travis County has not adopted an STR licensing program. Operators within Austin city limits must obtain an Austin STR license (Type 1 owner-occupied, Type 2 non-owner, Type 3 multifamily). Lakeway requires registration under Ord. 2019-07-15-01. Unincorporated operators must still register with the TX Comptroller for the 6% state hotel occupancy tax.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to list my property on Airbnb in Travis County?
Unincorporated Travis County has no STR permit or license requirement. Texas counties do not have authority to require STR licensing in unincorporated areas. State hotel occupancy tax registration with the Texas Comptroller is required.
What are the short-term rental registration requirements in Travis County?
County License: Not required. State HOT Registration: Required (TX Comptroller). HOA Rules: May restrict STRs in subdivisions. ETJ Properties: May be subject to Austin rules.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Travis County

All Travis County rules

How Travis County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Travis County to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview

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Short-Term Rental Permits in Cities Across Travis County