Short-Term Rental Laws in Houston, TX (2026)
Short-term rentals are legal citywide in Houston, but under the city's first STR ordinance (adopted April 16, 2025, effective January 1, 2026) every STR must hold an annual Certificate of Registration from the Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department — a $275 non-refundable fee plus a city administrative fee (about $33 in 2025) per unit. Houston has no zoning code and imposes no owner-occupancy rules, per-owner unit caps, or night caps; the biggest obligations are registering each unit, remitting a combined 17% hotel occupancy tax, and avoiding $100-$500-per-day fines and platform delisting for operating unregistered. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 8 official sources. How we verify data
Houston STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration |
| Permit fee | $275 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Minimum stay | 1 night |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~17% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | No. The city's STR FAQ states owners/operators are not required to purchase STR insurance or provide proof of STR insurance on the property. |
| Enforcement | Enforcement began January 1, 2026, administered by the Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA). |
| Current rules effective | 2026-01-01 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Houston stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Houston, TX — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Houston occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Texas state hotel occupancy tax (6%)· usually collected by platform | $27.00 |
| City of Houston hotel occupancy tax (7%)· collection varies | $31.50 |
| Harris County hotel occupancy tax (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| Harris County-Houston Sports Authority hotel occupancy tax (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| 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.
Permits & licensing
Houston requires Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $275, renewed annually.
$275.00 non-refundable annual registration fee per rental property, plus a City of Houston administrative fee ($33.10 for calendar year 2025; city fees adjust annually per the Consumer Price Index). Each STR unit — including individual condominium or apartment units in a single complex — requires a separate certificate. Certificates are non-transferable.
Zoning & location rules
Houston has no conventional zoning code and the STR ordinance imposes no location or district restrictions — registration is available citywide. However, applicants must declare that STR use does not violate private covenants, HOA rules, bylaws, deed restrictions, condominium agreements, or lease terms, which remain privately enforceable. STRs may not be advertised as event spaces.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Texas state hotel occupancy tax6% of the room cost per Texas Tax Code ch. 156. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit the state portion for bookings on their sites; hosts taking direct bookings must register with the Texas Comptroller and remit it themselves. | 6% | platform |
| City of Houston hotel occupancy taxAdministered by Houston First Corporation. Per Houston First, Airbnb has collected and remitted the city HOT for all Airbnb bookings since July 1, 2019, and HomeAway/Vrbo has done so for all bookings on its site since January 1, 2020. The city's ARA registration page exempts only Airbnb-only listings from providing HOT proof at registration; hosts taking direct bookings or using platforms other than Airbnb/Vrbo must register with Houston First and remit the city HOT themselves. | 7% | varies |
| Harris County hotel occupancy taxAdministered by the Harris County Tax Office; applies within Houston city limits (part of Houston's 17% combined rate). Platform collection varies — hosts should confirm whether their platform remits the county portion. | 2% | varies |
| Harris County-Houston Sports Authority hotel occupancy taxPart of Houston's 17% combined hotel occupancy tax; remitted through the Harris County Tax Office. Platform collection varies — hosts should confirm whether their platform remits this portion. | 2% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
Enforcement began January 1, 2026, administered by the Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA). Online registration and a 24-hour complaint hotline are run by Host Compliance (Granicus). The city may notify platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) to remove listings that lack a valid certificate; platforms must delist within 10 business days of notification, and the city said it will begin sending delisting notifications on January 1, 2027. As of April 2026 the city reported nearly 4,000 STRs registered with about 1,100 applications pending (roughly 83% compliance). Complaints are routed to the relevant departments (HPD for noise, Solid Waste for trash, etc.).
Operating in violation of the ordinance is an offense punishable on conviction by a fine of $100.00 to $500.00 per violation, with each day a continuing violation counted as a separate violation. The director may also revoke a certificate of registration (without fee refund) for issuance in error, false/misleading application information, code non-compliance, or excessive nuisance violations; revocation is cumulative with fines.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Getting legal in Houston: the playbook
Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.
- 1
Verify your zoning
Location rules apply: Houston has no conventional zoning code and the STR ordinance imposes no location or district restrictions — registration is available citywide. However, applicants must declare that STR use does not violate private covenants, HOA rules, bylaws, deed restrictions, condominium agreements, or lease terms, which remain privately enforceable. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.
- 2
Check the covenant layer
HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
- 3
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration
Budget $275, renewed annually. 10 for calendar year 2025; city fees adjust annually per the Consumer Price Index). Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.
- 4
Line up required insurance
No. The city's STR FAQ states owners/operators are not required to purchase STR insurance or provide proof of STR insurance on the property.
- 5
Set up tax collection & remittance
Platforms don't collect everything here: City of Houston hotel occupancy tax (7%), Harris County hotel occupancy tax (2%), Harris County-Houston Sports Authority hotel occupancy tax (2%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.
- 6
Configure your listing to the operating limits
Set your calendar and listing rules to respect the 1-night minimum stay — platform delisting and fines in this market typically start with listings that visibly violate these limits.
- 7
Calendar the renewal before you forget it
This permit renews annually (budget $275 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.
- 8
Know the cost of getting it wrong
00 per violation, with each day a continuing violation counted as a separate violation. The director may also revoke a certificate of registration (without fee refund) for issuance in error, false/misleading application information, code non-compliance, or excessive nuisance violations; revocation is cumulative with fines. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.
Recent rule changes in Houston
January 1, 2026critical
STR ordinance took effect; enforcement began
Houston's STR ordinance (Code of Ordinances Ch. 28, Art. XXIII) took effect at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2026. Operating without a Certificate of Registration became punishable by $100-$500 fines per day. By April 2026 the city reported ~4,000 registered STRs plus ~1,100 pending (about 83% compliance); platform delisting notifications are deferred until January 1, 2027.
Official source →October 1, 2025material
Registration portal opened (delayed from August 1)
The Host Compliance-run online registration portal opened October 1, 2025, after technical issues delayed the originally announced on-or-about August 1, 2025 launch. Hosts had until January 1, 2026 to come into compliance before enforcement began.
Official source →April 16, 2025material
Houston City Council adopted the city's first STR ordinance
Council unanimously approved a registration-based framework adding Article XXIII to Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances: annual $275 certificate of registration per STR unit, 24-hour emergency contact, human trafficking awareness training, proof of HOT registration/remittance, ban on advertising STRs as event spaces, and platform delisting obligations.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Houston?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Houston, TX, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Houston?
Yes. Houston requires a Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration to operate a short-term rental, which costs $275 and must be renewed annually. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Houston short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration costs $275 (annual renewal). $275.00 non-refundable annual registration fee per rental property, plus a City of Houston administrative fee ($33.10 for calendar year 2025; city fees adjust annually per the Consumer Price Index). Each STR unit — including individual condominium or apartment units in a single complex — requires a separate certificate. Certificates are non-transferable.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Houston?
Yes — Houston 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 Houston?
Hosts in Houston are subject to: Texas state hotel occupancy tax (6%), City of Houston hotel occupancy tax (7%), Harris County hotel occupancy tax (2%), Harris County-Houston Sports Authority hotel occupancy tax (2%) — roughly 17% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›Is there a minimum stay for short-term rentals in Houston?
Yes — Houston requires a minimum stay of 1 night for short-term rentals. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need insurance to run a short-term rental in Houston?
No. The city's STR FAQ states owners/operators are not required to purchase STR insurance or provide proof of STR insurance on the property. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Houston?
Yes — the listed taxes (Texas state hotel occupancy tax) are collected and remitted by the platform in Houston. Confirm in your platform tax settings, since collection agreements change.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Houston?
00 per violation, with each day a continuing violation counted as a separate violation. The director may also revoke a certificate of registration (without fee refund) for issuance in error, false/misleading application information, code non-compliance, or excessive nuisance violations; revocation is cumulative with fines. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.
›When did Houston's current short-term rental rules take effect?
The current ordinance took effect on January 1, 2026. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.
Houston's STR rules changed 3 times recently.
Get an email the moment Houston changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
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More resources
- How to get a short-term rental permit in Houston
- Houston short-term rental taxes explained
- Can I Airbnb in Houston?
- All Texas STR laws by city
- Occupancy tax calculator
- Compare STR permit costs across cities
- Houston ranks among highest str occupancy tax cities
- Houston ranks among easiest cities for airbnb
- STR city rankings: strictest, cheapest permits & more
- What is transient occupancy tax?
- What are minimum-stay rules?
- Best STR compliance tools, compared
- Latest STR rule changes nationwide
Sources
- City of Houston ARA — Short Term Rentals (registration page)retrieved July 11, 2026
- City of Houston Ordinance No. 2025-322 — Short-Term Rental Ordinance (adopted Apr 16, 2025, adds Ch. 28 Art. XXIII)retrieved July 11, 2026
- City of Houston ARA press release — Houston City Council Approves Short-Term Rental Regulations (Apr 17, 2025)retrieved July 11, 2026
- City of Houston — Short-Term Rental Regulations: Answers to FAQs (Apr 25, 2025)retrieved July 11, 2026
- Houston Permitting Center — Newly Adopted Short-Term Rental Ordinance Effective January 1, 2026retrieved July 11, 2026
- Houston First Corporation — Hotel Occupancy Tax FAQsretrieved July 11, 2026
- Texas Comptroller — Hotel Occupancy Taxretrieved July 11, 2026
- Avalara MyLodgeTax — Houston short-term rental law enforcement starts (Apr 2026)retrieved July 11, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Houston and a qualified professional before operating.