League City requires every short-term rental to obtain an annual STR permit from the Building Department under Section 125-3.14.18, plus a separate Hotel Occupancy Tax certificate via Rentalscape, before listing on Airbnb, VRBO, or any booking platform.
Under City Ordinance Sec. 125-3.14.18, every property rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must hold a valid STR permit issued through the City's Online Permit Portal before advertising on a booking platform. The application requires a site plan showing the property and designated parking spaces, a floor plan showing sleeping areas and evacuation routes, and the permit fee. The City has stated a $300 annual permit fee, with the fee doubled if the operator is found advertising without a permit. A fire and life-safety inspection is required prior to issuance. Permits must be renewed annually, and the permit number must be displayed in every booking-platform listing. After the permit is issued, the operator must register the property in the Rentalscape platform to obtain a Hotel Occupancy Tax certificate. Texas has no statewide STR preemption, so League City's program governs.
Operating or advertising an STR without a valid permit number displayed is a Class C misdemeanor under Sec. 125-3.14.18, punishable by fines up to $500 per offense, with each day a separate violation. The permit fee is doubled if a property is found listed without a valid permit.
See how League City's registration rules rules stack up against other locations.
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