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Short-Term Rentals

Austin, TX · City rule · Reviewed 2026-09-28

You need a valid City of Austin operating license before operating a short-term rental in Austin's full-purpose or limited-purpose jurisdiction.

Official source: Short-Term RentalsSource checked 2026-09-26

More about this rule

The rule in plain language

Austin describes short-term rentals as an accessory use in residential zoning districts when the operator has a valid license. Properties in the full-purpose jurisdiction also have City hotel-occupancy-tax and reporting duties; a limited-purpose property still needs the operating license but is not subject to City hotel occupancy tax, and the extraterritorial jurisdiction is handled differently.

What to keep in mind

The page describes additional operator, local-contact, site, and unit requirements, and some platform provisions take effect July 1, 2026. Because the page also contains older language about license duration, verify the current application, renewal, tax, and property-specific requirements directly with the City before listing or operating a rental.

Official source

Short-Term Rentals

City rule: City of Austin · retrieved-2026-09-26 · Source checked 2026-09-26 · Reviewed 2026-09-28

Civic education, not legal advice. Rules can change.

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