How to get a short-term rental permit in San Antonio, TX (2026)
San Antonio requires Short Term Rental (STR) Permit (Type 1 owner/operator-occupied; Type 2 non-owner-occupied) — the fee is $300. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short Term Rental (STR) Permit (Type 1 owner/operator-occupied; Type 2 non-owner-occupied) |
| Permit fee | $300 |
| Renewal | — |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs are allowed by right anywhere dwelling units are permitted inside city limits (per DSD's 2026 fact sheet: any residential zoning district plus districts with established residential use, except C-3, L, I-1 and I-2). Type 1 (owner/operator-occupied) has no density limit. Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) is allowed by right only up to density caps: 12.5% of units on a single-family residential block face (rounded down per UDC amendment effective Jan 1, 2023), one Type 2 in multi-family buildings of 5-7 units, and 12.5% of units in buildings with 8+ units. However, every block face or multi-family property is allowed at least one Type 2 by right regardless of density (UDC Sec. 35-374.01); exceeding the cap requires a special exception from the Board of Adjustment ($400 application fee for properties with a homestead exemption, $600 for all others, per DSD's May 2026 fact sheet). Type 2 STRs may not operate in accessory dwelling units, ADUs may be STRs only where the owner lives on-site (Type 1), and properties that received city housing funding after Nov 1, 2018 are ineligible. At least one off-street parking space per unit is required.
- 2
Apply for the Short Term Rental (STR) Permit (Type 1 owner/operator-occupied; Type 2 non-owner-occupied)
Submit the Short Term Rental (STR) Permit (Type 1 owner/operator-occupied; Type 2 non-owner-occupied) application to San Antonio and pay the $300 fee. $300 for Type 1 and $450 (45000 cents) for Type 2, per Ordinance 2024-06-13-0433 effective June 14, 2024 (up from $100). Same fee applies to new applications and renewals; permits run 3 years. Paper applications carry an additional $10 processing fee.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for San Antonio. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment San Antonio changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
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Verified July 13, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with San Antonio before applying.