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Enforcement is active. STRs in Houston without a valid Certificate of Registration face fines of $100–$500 per day, and the City has begun notifying booking platforms to remove unregistered listings.
Your complete guide to the City's Certificate of Registration, Hotel Occupancy Tax filing, eligible property types, and the operating rules that took effect January 1, 2026.
Register My PropertyHouston City Council unanimously adopted the city's first-ever short-term rental ordinance on April 16, 2025. The ordinance took effect January 1, 2026, following a registration window that opened October 1, 2025. A short-term rental is any dwelling unit, or portion of one, rented or offered for rent for fewer than 30 consecutive days — whole homes, apartments, guest houses, and private rooms are all covered if listed for stays under 30 days.
Every STR operator must obtain a City-issued Certificate of Registration from the Administration & Regulatory Affairs (ARA) Department before advertising or accepting bookings. Each unit requires its own registration — there is no blanket registration for multiple properties. Registration runs through the City's online portal; Hotel Occupancy Tax accounts and remittance are handled separately, across three overlapping jurisdictions.
Delisting date correction — materials in circulation (including earlier guidance) cited April 1, 2026 as the platform-delisting date. The City's own current STR page states that platform notifications to remove unregistered listings begin January 1, 2027 — the City asked Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms to delay delisting until that date. Registering promptly is still strongly advised: daily fines of $100–$500 apply regardless of whether a listing has been delisted.
Every STR operator in Houston must obtain a City-issued STR Registration Certificate. Each unit requires its own registration — there is no blanket registration for multiple properties.
Five minutes — property address, bedroom count, and ownership details.
Days 1–3: registrant info, property info, entity documents (if applicable), emergency contact designation, and human trafficking prevention training certificate are assembled.
Days 4–14: your application moves through the ARA Department's str.houstontx.gov portal. The portal does not allow saving and returning to an in-progress application, so a complete document set upfront avoids restarts.
Days 15–21: your Certificate of Registration is issued, valid through December 31 of the year following issuance (certificates issued on or before Dec. 31, 2026 expire Dec. 31, 2027).
Your registration number goes on every listing, and you're set up for quarterly Hotel Occupancy Tax filing across all applicable jurisdictions.
Holding a certificate comes with document prerequisites and ongoing obligations. Failure to comply with any of the following can result in fines, citation, or revocation of your registration.
All STR operators must collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) at the state, city, and county levels — three separate jurisdictions layered into one combined rate: 6% Texas State HOT (register with the TX Comptroller), 7% City of Houston HOT (register with Houston First), 2% Harris County HOT, and 2% Harris County Sports Authority, for a combined 17% within the City of Houston.
Reports are filed quarterly: Q1 due April 30, Q2 due July 31, Q3 due October 31, Q4 due January 31. Airbnb and Vrbo collect state and city HOT automatically on Houston bookings, but you remain personally responsible for the Harris County and Sports Authority portions those platforms don't cover, and for all HOT on direct bookings.
No property inspection is required at registration, but every STR must maintain these standards on an ongoing basis:
A designated 24/7 emergency contact is required — the same individual or call center named in your registration documents. This agent must be able to respond within one hour of notification from emergency responders or the City, have authority to make decisions about the property and its occupants, and take reasonable actions to resolve emergencies. Their name and phone number must be posted visibly inside the rental.
All STR properties must comply with Chapter 30 of the Houston Noise Ordinance, covering animals, vehicles, amplified music, and gatherings — 65 dB(A) daytime, 58 dB(A) at night. Two verified noise violations within 36 months can result in revocation of your STR registration. Report noise at 713-636-5365.
Houston's version of an excise/lodging tax is the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), collected and remitted at the state, city, and county levels: 6% Texas State HOT, 7% City of Houston HOT, 2% Harris County HOT, and 2% Harris County Sports Authority — combined 17%. Filed quarterly (Apr 30 / Jul 31 / Oct 31 / Jan 31), with a note that Airbnb/Vrbo auto-collect the state and city portions but hosts remain responsible for the county portions and all direct-booking HOT.
Advertising or hosting events or parties at your STR is strictly prohibited — including weddings, receptions, reunions, bachelor/bachelorette parties, concerts, or any similar gatherings. Violations result in fines or suspension of your registration.
Guest parking rules may vary by location — the City may impose parking limits based on neighborhood conditions, street congestion, or safety concerns. Trash and recycling must go in designated containers on the City's official collection schedule, with no bags or loose items left outside bins; large items require approved city collection services or authorized disposal facilities.
Every listing on Airbnb, Vrbo, or any platform must include the City-issued Certificate of Registration number and the maximum occupancy limit of the property. Advertising or hosting events, parties, weddings, receptions, reunions, or concerts is strictly prohibited — violations result in fines or registration suspension.
Houston's ordinance does not set a citywide numeric occupancy cap. Instead, each STR must display its own maximum occupancy limit on every listing and platform, and that posted limit must be honored during every stay.
For questions specific to your application or the ordinance, contact the relevant office directly.
1002 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77002
311 or 713-837-0311
Disclaimer
Lodge Compliance is not a licensed tax, legal, or financial advisor. Nothing in this guide should be construed as tax, legal, or financial advice. Contact the City of Houston Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department, Houston First, or your own tax/legal counsel for guidance regarding your personal circumstances. Sources: City of Houston Ordinance 2025-322 (adopted April 16, 2025; effective January 1, 2026); City of Houston ARA Department Short-Term Rental program pages (houstontx.gov/ara/str.html); City of Houston Noise Ordinance, Chapter 30; Texas Comptroller Hotel Occupancy Tax guidance; Harris County Hotel Occupancy Tax and Harris County Sports Authority tax pages. The platform-delisting date (January 1, 2027) reflects the City's most current published guidance as of this writing and supersedes the April 1, 2026 date referenced in earlier materials; confirm current enforcement timing directly with the ARA Department before relying on it for a specific filing or application.
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