Regulations cross-referenced across federal, state, county, and municipal levels
Federal (IRS/FinCEN)
Texas State
Travis County
City of Austin
Required Licenses & Permits
All applicable permits for your address, property type, and jurisdiction
4 items
Short-Term Rental Permit (Type 2)
Required for non-owner-occupied STRs in Austin. Must be renewed annually. Property must pass fire safety inspection before permit is issued. Maximum of 3 Type 2 permits per owner.
Required for all STR operators in Texas. Must be registered with the Texas Comptroller before collecting any rental payments. Filing is monthly or quarterly depending on revenue.
Austin levies an additional 9% city-level hotel occupancy tax. Registration must be completed with the City of Austin Finance Department before your first booking.
Local safety codes, occupancy limits, and zoning classification
1 Warning
6
Max Guest Occupancy
90
Night Cap / Year
SF-3
Zoning Classification
Historic District Overlay: This property falls within the East Austin Historic District. Additional approval from the Austin Historic Landmark Commission may be required before operating as a short-term rental. Processing time can extend 8–12 weeks.
Fire Safety Inspection (Annual)
Austin Fire Department requires STR Type 2 properties to pass an annual inspection. Smoke detectors, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers required on every floor.
SF-3 (Family Residence) zoning in Austin permits short-term rentals subject to the STR ordinance. No conditional use permit is required for this classification.
Compliant
Forms & Government Portals
Direct links to every required form, application portal, and official citation
5 links
STR Permit Application — Austin Dev Services
Austin City Code § 4-18 · Requires proof of ownership, floor plan, and valid ID. $317 application fee. Processing time 3–6 weeks.
Ranked list of what to complete first to achieve full compliance
5 actions
1
Apply for STR Type 2 Permit — Urgent
You cannot legally accept bookings without this permit. The application requires a fire safety inspection to be completed first, so start this process immediately. Estimated processing time: 3–6 weeks.
Required before your STR permit can be issued. Ensure working smoke detectors, CO detectors, and a fire extinguisher on every floor before the inspector arrives.
Register for Texas State HOT (Comptroller Form AP-102)
You are legally required to collect and remit the 6% Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax from every guest. Register via the Texas Comptroller eSystems portal before your first booking.
Contact the Austin Historic Landmark Commission to determine if additional approval is needed. This overlay can significantly extend your permit timeline by 8–12 weeks.
Register for Austin City HOT with Finance Department
Once your STR permit is in process, complete your City of Austin hotel occupancy tax registration. The 9% city rate applies on top of state and county rates — combined burden is 17%.
This report is provided for guidance purposes only. Rental regulations change frequently and vary at the street level. Lodge Compliance recommends verifying all requirements directly with the relevant government authority before making compliance decisions. This report does not constitute legal advice.
.png)