Short-term rental rules
Running an Airbnb in Austin, Texas
Austin licenses short-term rentals annually through Development Services and requires the licence number in every listing. Hosts collect the Texas state hotel occupancy tax plus the city hotel occupancy tax, and platforms are required to collect and remit.
The rules
Every field, with its source
Anything not confirmed on an official source shows as Verify with jurisdiction rather than a guess.
Austin uses licence types (owner-occupied Type 1 and non-owner-occupied Type 2); a primary residence is not required for all types.
SourceNo annual night cap identified for Austin STRs.
Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) STRs are restricted in residential zones.
SourceCheck eligibility
Can you run each type of STR in Austin?
A deterministic read of the cited rules for each common use type. When a governing rule is unknown, the verdict says so rather than guessing.
My primary residence (home-share)
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Austin once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/license-my-short-term-rental
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
- New marketplace rules effective 1 July 2026 require platforms to ensure Austin listings carry a valid licence number and to remove non-compliant listings within 10 days of notice.
Confidence: high. You live there and rent it while away or rent a room.
A whole second home / investment property
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Austin once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/license-my-short-term-rental
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
- New marketplace rules effective 1 July 2026 require platforms to ensure Austin listings carry a valid licence number and to remove non-compliant listings within 10 days of notice.
Confidence: high. A dedicated STR that is not your primary residence.
An ADU, basement or garage unit
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Austin once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/license-my-short-term-rental
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
- New marketplace rules effective 1 July 2026 require platforms to ensure Austin listings carry a valid licence number and to remove non-compliant listings within 10 days of notice.
Confidence: high. An accessory dwelling on your property.
Unhosted, whole-unit, no owner on site
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Austin once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/license-my-short-term-rental
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
- New marketplace rules effective 1 July 2026 require platforms to ensure Austin listings carry a valid licence number and to remove non-compliant listings within 10 days of notice.
Confidence: high. The strictest category in most cities.
LodgeDeck reports publicly available short-term rental rules and lodging tax rates and cites the source of each field. It is not legal or tax advice and it does not replace your own review. Ordinances and tax rates change often and automated collection can lag, so every field shows the source it came from and a confidence flag, and unconfirmed values are marked Unverified. Confirm with the jurisdiction before you rely on a rule or rate.
FAQ
Common questions about Austin
Do I need a licence to run an Airbnb in Austin?
Yes. Austin requires a short-term rental licence or registration before you list. A city STR licence is required for each unit; licences are valid for two years.
Does a short-term rental have to be my primary residence in Austin?
No. Austin does not require the property to be your primary residence for all rental types. Austin uses licence types (owner-occupied Type 1 and non-owner-occupied Type 2); a primary residence is not required for all types.
Is there a night cap on short-term rentals in Austin?
No annual night cap is confirmed for Austin in our data. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Do I have to show my permit number on the listing in Austin?
Yes. Austin requires a valid permit or registration number to appear on the listing itself. Operators must include a valid licence number in ads or listings.
What lodging tax will my guest pay in Austin?
A guest pays roughly 17 percent combined lodging tax in Austin. See the full lodging-tax breakdown for the state and local components.
Track Austin for rule changes
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