Austin vs New Orleans: Short-Term Rental Rules Compared (2026)
Austin is currently "allowed with permit" while New Orleans is "restricted". On cost, New Orleans is the cheaper market to license ($500 vs $836.30). Full verified details for both markets below — always confirm current requirements with each jurisdiction.
Side by side
| Rule | Austin, TX | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Allowed with permit | Restricted |
| Permit required | Yes | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental (STR) Operating License | Non-Commercial Short-Term Rental (NSTR) Owner Permit (residential zones); Commercial Short-Term Rental (CSTR) Owner Permit (commercial/mixed-use zones); plus a separate STR Operator Permit |
| Permit fee | $836.30 | $500 |
| Renewal | Biennial | Annual |
| Primary residence only | No | No |
| Owner occupancy required | No | No |
| Night cap / year | None found | None found |
| Minimum stay | None found | None found |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~17% | ~16.75% |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 | July 10, 2026 |
Compare guest tax loads
Switch between the two markets to see itemized occupancy taxes on the same stay.
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (state) (6%)· usually collected by platform | $27.00 |
| City of Austin Hotel Occupancy Tax (11%)· usually collected by platform | $49.50 |
| Total tax (17%) | $76.50 |
| Guest pays | $526.50 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Austin, TX
Short-term rentals are legal citywide in Austin — allowed as an accessory use in every zoning district — but each STR must hold a city operating license ($836.30 for a new license, $385.30 renewal, valid two years as of October 2025). There is no owner-occupancy requirement (a 2023 federal court struck that down), but density is capped: at most two STRs per single-family site with 1,000-foot site-to-site spacing for additional units by the same operator, and generally 10% of units in multifamily buildings; starting July 1, 2026 platforms must delist unlicensed properties on city request. Guests pay 6% state plus 11% city hotel occupancy tax, both collected by platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo for platform bookings. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Austinrules, playbook & sources →New Orleans, LA
Short-term rentals are legal in New Orleans only with a city STR Owner permit plus a separate Operator permit: residential properties need a Non-Commercial (NSTR) owner permit ($500/yr plus $50 application fee), awarded by quarterly lottery with a hard cap of one NSTR or B&B per city square, and a permitted operator must live on site during every guest stay. STRs are banned in most of the French Quarter and in the Garden District, each owner may hold only one STR permit, and the city has accepted no new Commercial (CSTR) applications since June 8, 2023; since June 2025 platforms like Airbnb must verify a valid city permit before allowing bookings. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full New Orleansrules, playbook & sources →Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change frequently in both markets; verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating.