Updated Airbnb Laws and Regulations in Texas- What Hosts Need to Know When Renting in The Lone Star State

Alpine, Texas

Updates Airbnb Short-Term Rental Laws and Regulations 

New Airbnb laws and regulations in Alpine were introduced on January 19th, 2021. After a final review in February, hosts must comply with several operational standards and submit a special use permit application with a corresponding fee of $350 (cash, check, or money order payable to the City of Alpine). The full ordinance can be found on the City of Alpine website.   

Hosts also must provide the following details to the city when submitting their permit application. City of Alpine Short-Term Rental Special Use Permit Application Checklist:   

• A completed STR Registration Form.  
• A copy of a property insurance summary that states STR coverage is included and/or a complete insurance waiver. If the operator chooses to opt-out of property insurance a General Release of Liability MUST be signed by the operator.   
• A letter describing the proposed STR use, detailing whether the proposed STR will, or will not cause substantial harm to the value, use, or enjoyment of the other properties in the neighborhood. Also describe how the proposed STR will add to the value, use, or enjoyment of the other properties in the neighborhood.  
• A sketch floor plan of the dwelling with a dimensional room layout. Please identify sleeping areas, evacuation route(s), and location of fire extinguishers (note this!).   
• Proof of STR property ownership such as property tax documents, deeds, or a copy of the title (all owners must sign the application).   

Most cities are concerned with the negative effects of short-term rentals on their communities (i.e. quiet neighborhood homes turned into de facto hotels). Alpine requires hosts to describe how their short-term rental will better the community, such as an influx in business to local shops and restaurants.    

Hosts must also provide the following details to guests upon booking:  

• The 24-hour contact information of the STR owner or local representative  
• Neighborhood info such as parking and noise restrictions, trash collection schedules, etc.  
• Emergency and non-emergency telephone numbers for police and fire departments  
• Instructions for obtaining severe weather, natural or man-made disaster alerts 

Arlington, Texas

Updates Insurance Requirements for Airbnb Short-term Rentals

The short-term Airbnb laws and regulations in Arlington mirror various other cities that have accepted and adopted basic regulations. The regulations include: 

• Maximum Occupancy; 2 per bedroom + 2, limited to 12 
• Parking: limited to the number of available off-street spaces 
• Physical conversion of premises (to add bedrooms) prohibited 
• Noise restrictions; no amplified sound between 10 pm and 9 am 
• Outside congregation restrictions: between 10 pm and 9 am 
• Trash placement on the curb: after 7 pm the evening prior to the scheduled pickup 
• Premises not to be used as Banquet Hall 

Arlington also requires all valid permits to be obtained before hosting, requires all zoning regulations to be followed, and enforces a 30-day maximum occupancy limit.  

Arlington has opted to follow the move of many communities in requiring licensing with the city as well as requiring a minimum of $1 million in liability insurance, though they fail to mention the type of liability insurance that should be carried. This could create a problem among short-term rental operators, as they may find that having the wrong type of liability and property insurance could cost them should the time come to use their coverage. 

Commercial Activity Requires Commercial Insurance  

Short-term rentals are generally viewed as a commercial activity and as such, require commercial liability insurance. Personal liability, which many homeowners carry, is not designed to handle commercial exposure, and may decline a claim if they find that the liability issue is related to short-term renting. 

Operators of short-term rentals need to check with their liability coverage to ensure that they are appropriately covered to avoid the unfortunate and costly mistake of having the wrong insurance. City officials likewise should evaluate their rules to ensure that compliance does not lead to mistakes, leaving their law-abiding citizens incorrectly covered. Many resources exist for short-term rental owners to research in determining how best to insure their properties and their business activity while maintaining compliance with their local municipalities. Regulations can be rewarding for all parties involved but should be written to not endanger one party or another.

Austin, Texas

Continues to Enforce Strict and Outdated Airbnb Laws and Regulations 

The City of Austin is said to have “one of the oldest and most obstructive short-term rental laws in the state.” The city adopted an ordinance in 2016 to ban all “Type 2” short-term rentals (STRs)—i.e., a single-family STR that is not owner-occupied—by 2022. After continued years of debate, in September of 2021 a group of property owners sued and asked officials to enter a Final Judgment in accordance with the Third Court of Appeals decision, (i) declaring that Austin City Code section 25-2-950 (banning new Type 2 rentals after April 1, 2022) is unconstitutional and void and (ii) permanently enjoining the city from enforcing the ban on Type 2 rentals. On August 1, 2023, the Court Ruled Austin Short-term Rental Ordinance Unconstitutional. The city of Austin is slow to fully accept and issue permits however, type 2 properties are now able to apply for an application. Hosts just need to choose Type 2 Commercial when submitting their Type 2 residential application. The different Types are defined below:  

• Type 1—a single-family residence that is “owner-occupied or is associated with an owner-occupied principal residential unit;” 
• Type 2—a single-family residence that “is not owner-occupied and is not associated with an owner-occupied principal residential unit;” and
• Type 3—a residence that is “part of a multi-family residential use.” 

Aside from the regulations on Type 2 rentals, Austin also requires hosts to acquire a permit before operating a short-term rental, and the rental must be rented for 30 days or less. Further information provided by the city of Austin regarding short-term rental laws and regulations can be found here.  

Dallas, Texas

Proposed Amendment to Short-term Rentals in Debate

Hosts looking to rent their properties out short term in Dallas should be aware of the pending regulations. The people of Dallas have spoken up for and against short-term rentals (STRs). Residents have become overwhelmed with the outnumbered ratio of short-term rentals in their neighborhoods with guests who are not treating the neighborhood as if it was their own. These residents are calling for new zoning regulations. Because of this, as a whole, hosts are moving out of residential areas and into the outskirts of Dallas County in preparation for a zoning ban in residential areas. Please check with the City of Dallas for updates and pending regulations. The current regulations are in place and can be viewed on the City of Dallas website. The last update was June 14, 2023. 

Frisco, Texas

Approves New Short-Term Rental Regulations as Demand Grows

As the number of vacation rentals continues to grow in Frisco Texas, the community wants to protect their neighborhoods and maintain the availability of residential housing. Short-term rentals in Frisco include single-family homes, garage apartments, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and multifamily units.  If you rent your home or other dwellings for less than 30 days, you will be required to obtain a STR permit. On August 17th, 2021, a majority of the Frisco City Council voted in favor of an ordinance that would require permits for short-term rental hosts, increase safety measures, and require hotel/motel tax payments of short-term rentals in the city.  

Short-Term Rental Permit Updates:  

Application for a Short-Term Rental Permit shall be made through the City’s Online Permit Portal.  Each application for a short-term rental permit shall be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee in the amount of $300 and shall include the following information:  

• A list of owners, operators, and agents (if applicable) of the short-term rental, including names, addresses and current email addresses and telephone numbers of each such person  
• The name, address, and 24-hour telephone number of a contact person who is the owner, operator, or designated agent and who shall be responsible and authorized to respond to complaints concerning the short-term rental within one hour or less  
• An acknowledgment that any permit granted under this Article does not supersede any property-specific restrictions against short-term rentals that may exist under the law, agreement, lease, covenant, or deed restriction  
• A depiction of the floor plan that identifies sleeping areas, proposed maximum number of guests, evacuation routes, and location of all fire extinguishers and smoke detectors  
• The guest safety information required by Section 18-466  
• A sworn statement that the owner has met and will continue to comply with all requirements of this Article including, but not limited to, obtaining annual independent inspections of required fire extinguishers in compliance with the City’s current Fire Code  
• All other information required by the Director or designee 

Further information regarding Airbnb Short-Term rental laws and regulations can be found on the Frisco official website.  

Marble Falls, Texas

Requiring Liability Insurance

The Marble Falls, Texas City Council unanimously voted in favor of new vacation rental laws on Nov. 16th, 2021, and they took effect on January 1st, 2022. Within the new Airbnb short-term rental laws and regulations, hosts will be required to obtain a permit to operate their business within the city, which includes a requirement of $1M in liability insurance. Owners will also be required to register their properties with the city and follow all necessary guidelines to avoid a violation fine of up to $2,000. 

Short-Term Rental Ordinance Updates: The Marble Falls City Council has amended their Ordinance No. 2021-O-11A (pg. 50) in hopes of better-regulating vacation rentals in their city. 

Section 3. (c). Short-Term Rental Standards  

Part 3: Permit Application. Except as provided in this Article, every complete application for a short-term rental permit shall include the following information in detail and in a form approved by the City Manager: 

• The name, address, contact information, and authenticated signature of the owner of the premises; 
• The name, address, and contact information of the operator, agent if any, and designated local responsible party as required in Section (4) below; 
• The City registration number for Hotel Occupancy Tax; 
• A plot plan of the premises identifying the location of parking spaces to be used in conjunction with the short-term rental; 
• A dimensioned floor plan of the proposed short-term rental identifying bedrooms, other living spaces, and emergency evacuation routes; 
• Proof of insurance as required in Section (5) below; 
• The name and contact information for the property owner’s association, if any, of which the premises is covered by the dedicatory instruments; 
• A copy of the proposed host rules for the short-term rental; and 
• Such certifications are deemed necessary and proper to ensure compliance with the requirement of this Article. 

“Part 5: Insurance. It shall be unlawful for the owner of premises operating as a short-term rental to operate without host protection or other liability insurance commensurate with the operations of the short-term rental that provides coverage of up to $1 million per occurrence. A certificate of insurance must be on file with the City. Proof of insurance shall be required at the time of application and notice of cancelation of insurance must be made to the City within 30 days.” – Ordinance No. 2021-O-11A 

The new short-term rental laws and regulations state that hosts must have evidence of coverage up to $1M in liability insurance to apply for a vacation rental license.  Marble Falls, Texas has decided to implement an insurance requirement, so that hosts have proper protection because they have seen the risks one acquires when operating an Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.

San Antonio, Texas

Addresses Concerns from Residents and Enforces Short-Term Rental Regulations 

San Antonio updated the short-term Airbnb laws and regulations in late 2018 in order to combat overcrowding and lack of affordable housing as expressed by various parties within the city. The regulations require that the rental operators pay a registration fee to the city, as well as pay a lodging tax similar to what a hotel operation would be subjected to. This is similar to measures that other cities have taken to deal with perceived problems that have arisen from short-term rentals.  

Types of STR’s:  

• Type 1- primary residence of the owner or operator. This applies to primary and accessory dwelling units. 
• Type 2 – property is not occupied by owner or operator. 

STRs are allowed in any residential zoning district and in districts with established residential use except: C-3, L, I-1, and I-2 districts. The city uses a “blockface,” or one side of the street between intersections, in the calculations done to determine (the density) how many STRs are allowed. 

• Type 1 – no density limitation 
• Type 2 – allowed by right, up to 12.5% of units on blockface (add link to new document). Only one is allowed by right on a blockface or multi-family unit. 

San Antonio’s ordinance only allows 12.5 percent of the houses in a block face to be short-term rentals. Put more simply: for every eight houses in a block, only one short-term rental is allowed on that side of the street.  

Permits: To apply for a permit the following is required:  

• Contact information for the property owner, applicant, and 24/7 designated operator 
• Floor plan and parking plan showing: 
• Maximum number of guests 
• Location of fire extinguishers 
• Sleeping areas 
• Emergency evacuation routes 
• Designated parking spaces 
• Owner authorization (if the person applying is not the owner, a notarized authorization from the owner is needed.) 
• Proof of ownership (if you have recently purchased the property, please provide the recorded warranty deed.) Staff uses the Bexar County Appraisal District to verify the owner of records. 

Once you have a permit, the number will need to be included as you advertise on various platforms. 

Wimberly, Texas

Clearly Defines Short-term Rental Regulations as Tourism Continues to Expand

Due to the increase of Wimberley’s popularity as a vacation destination, it has continued to grow in recent years. Short-term rentals in homes have become more prevalent due to increased demand for overnight accommodation. Because of this influx of tourism, city officials have clearly laid out updated short-term Airbnb laws and regulations.  

Types of STR’s:  

• STR 1– An STR 1 is defined as a vacation rental where the property owner lives on the property where the guest facility is rented. 
• STR 2– An STR 2 is defined as a vacation rental where the property owner does NOT reside on the property. 

Permits:  

• The City’s Planning Department manages the process for Issuing permits for short-term rentals (STRs). The property owner must apply for the permit, known as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which requires final approval by the City Council. 
• The City Planner will notify neighbors within 200 feet of the property of the owner’s intention to receive a CUP. Per state law, if a total of 20 percent or more of the contiguous property owners oppose the CUP (by % of land area), a supermajority of the City Council is necessary for the CUP to be approved. That means that four out of the five Council Members must vote “yes” on the permit.  
• The council may also consider other factors in awarding the permit. These might include public safety and overall community issues. 

Further Requirements:  

• Upon approval, the STR is required to pay the state Hotel Occupancy Tax of 6 percent, and the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax of 7 percent. This is a tax that is passed through to the consumer and appears as a separate line item on the consumer’s bill for the rental. 
• Additionally, the property is subject to all the city’s ordinances, including but not limited to septic compliance, parking requirements, noise mitigation, and dark sky lighting. 

The updated Short-Term rental ordinance that went into effect March 10th, 2022, can be found here.  

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