Short-Term Rental Laws in Galveston, TX (2026)
Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) are legal in Galveston in every zoning district except R-0 Restricted Residential, but each unit must hold a non-transferable annual city STR license — the Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) registration — costing $250 per unit per year, renewed by December 31, with the GVR number displayed in all advertising. A November 2025 ordinance overhaul (Ord. 25-060) created an STR Licensing Board with a three-strikes revocation rule and requires a 24/7 local contact who can respond to complaints within one hour; hosts also owe 15% in hotel occupancy taxes (6% state + 9% city), which Airbnb and Vrbo collect on platform bookings while owners remain ultimately responsible and must still file reports. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
⏳ Verification in progress — data compiled July 10, 2026, human review pending
Galveston STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental License / Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) registration number |
| Permit fee | $250 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~15% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | None found — Ordinance 25-060 (the city's complete STR article, Ch. 19 Art. VI) contains no liability-insurance requirement for STR licensing. |
| Enforcement | The city runs a 24/7 monitored STR hotline (409-247-8160) for complaints. The designated local contact (must live within one hour of the property) must respond to complaints within 1 hour and resolve them within 2 hours; each failure is a violation. Registration applications run through the Deckard compliance portal, and the city sends invalid/expired/revoked GVR numbers to platforms, which must remove those listings. A staff Short-Term Rental Licensing (STRL) Board reviews violations: a license is eligible for revocation after three violations within 12 months (owner may rebut with evidence); first revocations last up to six months, repeat violations after reinstatement can bring permanent revocation, and City Council takes final action. Units must be delisted from all platforms during any revocation or suspension. |
| Current rules effective | 2025-11-13 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Galveston stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Galveston, TX — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Galveston occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Texas state hotel occupancy tax (6%)· collection varies | $27.00 |
| City of Galveston hotel occupancy tax (HOT) (9%)· collection varies | $40.50 |
| Total tax (15%) | $67.50 |
| Guest pays | $517.50 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Galveston requires Short-Term Rental License / Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) registration number to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $250, renewed annual.
$250 per rental unit per year (new and renewal), non-refundable with no pro-rata reduction; each unit must be licensed separately. A $500 late fee applies to registrations submitted after December 31 (waived if the property was acquired after the deadline). Online ACH/credit-card payments add convenience fees.
Zoning & location rules
STRs are allowed in every zoning district on the island except R-0 (Restricted Residential), a district created specifically to exclude STRs; neighborhoods such as Denver Court and Lafitte's Point (320+ homes) have been rezoned R-0 by petition, with additional rezonings continuing through 2025. STRs established before a zoning change are legal nonconformities that may continue, but the nonconforming status is lost if registration lapses more than 365 consecutive days or use is discontinued for 365 days. RVs, mobile homes, campers, trailers and similar shelters may not be registered as STRs (RVs in permanent RV parks exempt). The ordinance does not override private deed restrictions or HOA covenants that prohibit STRs.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Texas state hotel occupancy tax6% of the listing price including cleaning fees for reservations 29 nights and shorter. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit under voluntary agreements with the Texas Comptroller; hosts taking direct bookings must register with the Comptroller and remit themselves. | 6% | varies |
| City of Galveston hotel occupancy tax (HOT)9% of taxable gross receipts (nightly rate, cleaning fee, pet fee, etc.). Since a city ordinance approved in August 2021, platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) that collect state HOT must also collect and remit the city HOT; Ordinance 25-060 Sec. 19-120 codifies this but states payment ultimately remains the owner/operator's responsibility. Owners must still file HOT reports by the 20th of the following month — including zero reports — or quarterly if taxes do not exceed $500/month or $1,500/quarter. Collection administered by the City of Galveston since Oct 1, 2025 (previously the Park Board of Trustees). Combined state + city rate is 15%; no separate county HOT was identified within city limits. | 9% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
The city runs a 24/7 monitored STR hotline (409-247-8160) for complaints. The designated local contact (must live within one hour of the property) must respond to complaints within 1 hour and resolve them within 2 hours; each failure is a violation. Registration applications run through the Deckard compliance portal, and the city sends invalid/expired/revoked GVR numbers to platforms, which must remove those listings. A staff Short-Term Rental Licensing (STRL) Board reviews violations: a license is eligible for revocation after three violations within 12 months (owner may rebut with evidence); first revocations last up to six months, repeat violations after reinstatement can bring permanent revocation, and City Council takes final action. Units must be delisted from all platforms during any revocation or suspension.
Violations are Class C misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 per offense, rising to a maximum of $2,000 for offenses involving fire safety, zoning, public health and sanitation. Each day of a continuing violation (including each day a unit is advertised without a registration number) is a separate offense. Citations may be issued to owners, operators, or occupants. Failure to register brings a $500 late fee plus immediate suspension of the listing and fines; license revocation is possible after three violations in 12 months.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Galveston
November 13, 2025material
Ordinance 25-060: comprehensive STR ordinance rewrite adopted
City Council rewrote Chapter 19 Article VI in its entirety, effective immediately: created the staff Short-Term Rental Licensing (STRL) Board and a three-strikes revocation process (revocation eligible after 3 violations in 12 months; first revocation up to 6 months, permanent possible), confirmed the $250/unit annual license and added a $500 late fee, required a 24/7 local contact responding within 1 hour, banned RVs/campers as STRs, set signage standards, and obligated platforms to remove invalid listings and to collect/remit city HOT when they collect state HOT.
Official source →October 1, 2025material
STR regulation and HOT collection transferred from Park Board to the City
The City of Galveston assumed STR regulatory authority, registration, complaint response, and hotel occupancy tax collection from the Galveston Park Board of Trustees. HOT payments and STR registrations are now handled by the City (str@galvestontx.gov); prior Park Board guidance pages may be outdated.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Galveston?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Galveston, TX, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental License / Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) registration number before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Galveston?
Yes. Galveston requires a Short-Term Rental License / Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) registration number to operate a short-term rental, which costs $250 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Galveston short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Rental License / Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) registration number costs $250 (annual renewal). $250 per rental unit per year (new and renewal), non-refundable with no pro-rata reduction; each unit must be licensed separately. A $500 late fee applies to registrations submitted after December 31 (waived if the property was acquired after the deadline). Online ACH/credit-card payments add convenience fees.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Galveston?
Yes — Galveston 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.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Galveston?
Hosts in Galveston are subject to: Texas state hotel occupancy tax (6%), City of Galveston hotel occupancy tax (HOT) (9%) — roughly 15% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Galveston?
Violations are Class C misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 per offense, rising to a maximum of $2,000 for offenses involving fire safety, zoning, public health and sanitation. Each day of a continuing violation (including each day a unit is advertised without a registration number) is a separate offense. Citations may be issued to owners, operators, or occupants. Failure to register brings a $500 late fee plus immediate suspension of the listing and fines; license revocation is possible after three violations in 12 months. The city runs a 24/7 monitored STR hotline (409-247-8160) for complaints. The designated local contact (must live within one hour of the property) must respond to complaints within 1 hour and resolve them within 2 hours; each failure is a violation. Registration applications run through the Deckard compliance portal, and the city sends invalid/expired/revoked GVR numbers to platforms, which must remove those listings. A staff Short-Term Rental Licensing (STRL) Board reviews violations: a license is eligible for revocation after three violations within 12 months (owner may rebut with evidence); first revocations last up to six months, repeat violations after reinstatement can bring permanent revocation, and City Council takes final action. Units must be delisted from all platforms during any revocation or suspension.
Galveston's STR rules changed 2 times recently.
Get an email the moment Galveston changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Galveston for changes →Free account · alerts from $12/mo · cancel anytime
Related
Nearby covered cities
- Austin, TXPermit required
- Fredericksburg, TXPermit required
- New Orleans, LARestricted
- Broken Bow, OKRestricted
- Gulf Shores, ALPermit required
Sources
- City of Galveston — Ordinance No. 25-060 (full text, adopted Nov. 13, 2025): Ch. 19 Art. VI Short Term Rentalsretrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Galveston — City Council approves updated short-term rental ordinance (press release + ordinance summary)retrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Galveston — Short-term Rental Registration and Renewalsretrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Galveston — STR Ordinances, Authorization and Penaltiesretrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Galveston FAQ — Can a short-term rental operate in my neighborhood?retrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Galveston — Hotel Occupancy Tax Collection Report form (9% rate)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center — Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Texasretrieved July 10, 2026
- Houston Public Media — Galveston City Council approves stricter short-term rental ordinance with three-strike rule (Nov. 14, 2025)retrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Galveston and a qualified professional before operating.