Is Airbnb legal in Houston, TX?

Allowed

These rules are changing or in active litigation. Verify the current status directly before you rely on it.

Airbnb is allowed in Houston, TX

Houston adopted its first STR ordinance in 2025, effective January 2026. Operators register, post a 24-hour contact, and remit hotel occupancy tax, but there is no primary-residence rule and no night cap, and Houston has no zoning to restrict where STRs go.

Short-Term Rental Ordinance (2025)View the ordinance

Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.

Key rules at a glance

Permit or registration

Required

Primary residence only

No

Annual night cap

Not confirmed

Registration fee

$275

How short-term rentals work in Houston

The first step in Houston is the city's permit or registration process, with a fee of about $275. The status card above has the full detail on the current rules.

Houston broadly permits short-term rentals. Expect to register and collect lodging tax, but there is real room for an investor STR strategy.

At the state level, Texas leaves short-term rental rules to cities and counties.

What it means for investors

Houston is relatively open to short-term rentals, so an STR strategy is on the table. Run the numbers on a specific property, and compare it to a straight long-term rental to see which pencils better.

Analyze a rental hereCheck long-term rent

Short-term rental rules elsewhere in Texas

Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Houston?

Houston adopted its first STR ordinance in 2025, effective January 2026. Operators register, post a 24-hour contact, and remit hotel occupancy tax, but there is no primary-residence rule and no night cap, and Houston has no zoning to restrict where STRs go. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.

Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Houston?

Yes. Houston requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.

Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Houston?

Yes, Houston does not require you to live in the property, though other limits such as caps, zoning, or licensing may still apply.

Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Houston?

No specific annual night cap was confirmed for Houston, though minimum-stay rules or license caps may effectively limit operations. Check the ordinance.

What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Houston?

Short-term rentals in Houston are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Texas and the city.