Short-Term Rental Laws in Fredericksburg, TX (2026)

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Fredericksburg, TX, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

Yes. Fredericksburg requires a Short-Term Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental, which costs $300 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

The Short-Term Rental Permit costs $300 (annual renewal). Fees are tiered by bedroom count per the City of Fredericksburg Development Services STR Owner/Operator Update (June 18, 2024, linked from the city STR hub): 1 bedroom $300, 2 bedrooms $500, 3 bedrooms $700, 4 bedrooms $900, 5 bedrooms $1,000, plus a $300 transfer fee; permit_fee_cents reflects the 1-bedroom minimum ($300). City Council adopted this new STR fee schedule in December 2023 ('New STR permit fees set for 2024', Fredericksburg Standard). CAUTION: the Airbnb Help Center and several third-party guides still list '$150/unit + $100/bedroom', but that formula traces to the pre-2024 regime (it appears verbatim in a November 2022 local realty article) and is outdated. The posted city fee schedule (effective March 25, 2026) itemizes only related charges: re-inspections $75 and 'Short Term Rental Appeal to City Council $500' — the STR application fee itself is not on that PDF, so confirm the current amount with Development Services. STRs in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) need no permit but must still remit city HOT.

Yes — Fredericksburg does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

Hosts in Fredericksburg are subject to: Texas state hotel occupancy tax (6%), City of Fredericksburg hotel occupancy tax (7%), Gillespie County hotel occupancy tax (7%) — roughly 20% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

Operating or advertising an STR without a permit is a zoning-ordinance violation and a misdemeanor punishable by a fine as provided in Sec. 1-6 of the municipal code, with each day a separate offense. City Council may suspend a permit for up to 90 days after repeated major violations, suspend 90 days for failure to remit hotel occupancy tax, and revoke or suspend 90-180 days for continued repeat violations. Denied/nonconforming operators must cease STR use within 60 days of notice of permit denial. Development Services administers permits via the My Government Online (MGO) portal; inspections are required before a new permit is issued, on ownership transfer, on complaints, after structural modifications, and annually at renewal ('Inspections are now required annually'). Failure to pass re-inspection results in permit denial, and a property cannot be operated while in violation. Advertising an unpermitted property is itself unlawful, and listings must display the permit number. Violations are tiered: minor violations are Sec. 20-222 infractions not threatening health/safety (city examples: watering, trash, lighting); major violations include health and safety, occupancy, noise, failure to update application information, an unresponsive 24-hour contact, non-remittance of hotel occupancy tax, unlawful advertisements, and operating without a permit. Three minor violations within 12 months equal one major violation; three major violations within 12 months trigger City Council review and possible suspension. The city maintains a public STR map and an STR complaint page/code-enforcement line for neighbors.