Houston Airbnb Laws: A Guide to What Hosts Need to Know Before Listing in 2025

Revolution Investments Group
Aug 7, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Houston Airbnb laws saw some big changes in 2025, affecting new and existing Airbnb hosts. Whether you’re setting up your first listing or converting a long-term rental (LTR) into a short-term rental (STR), you’ll need to stay on top of shifting local regulations to avoid fines or getting booted off Airbnb.

Some key dates to know are:

April 16, 2025 – Houston City Council adopts an ordinance creating regulations for short-term rental properties operating within Houston city limits.
August 1, 2025 – Ordinance implementation beings
January 1, 2026 – Ordinance enforcement begins

tl;dr: Houston’s new Airbnb rules start Aug 1, 2025 and enforce Jan 1, 2026. Hosts must register ($275 + annual renewal), post certificates, complete training, pay the 17% hotel tax, and meet safety/HOA rules. Non-compliance = $100–$500/day fines or loss of license.

Stay on the right side of the law and keep your listing running smoothly with this guide, which provides:

The definition of a short-term rental in Houston, plus a list of exemptions
A before-and-after comparison of what’s changed under the new ordinance
A checklist of requirements to complete so short-term rental hosts stay compliant
A list of things to monitor as short-term rental regulations continue to evolve

What is considered a short-term rental in Houston?

So, what qualifies for a short-term rental? According to the ordinance, it’s a dwelling unit or any portion of a dwelling unit that is rented out or offered to be rented out for a period of less than 30 consecutive days. That could be a home, apartment, or room you rent out.

But there are exceptions. They are:

Boarding homes

These are residential facilities that provide lodging to three or more people. The residents can’t be related to the boarding homeowner by either blood or marriage. Boarding homes typically provide residents with community meals, light housework, grocery shopping, laundry services, and help with taking medications.

Bed and breakfasts (B&Bs)

These are typically found in residential areas. Unlike short-term rentals like Airbnbs, a B&B provide breakfast to guests as part of the lodging experience. That means certifications and following food service laws.

Hotels

Like bed and breakfasts that provide meal service, there are additional certifications needed and food service laws to follow.

Lodging facilities

These properties fall under the hotel or motel regulation and not the new ordinance. Like boarding homes, they house three or more guests. The guests can’t be related to the owner by either blood or marriage. Additionally, the owner does not live on the property for three or more months out of the year. Most Airbnb hosts will fall under the STR ordinance, and not lodging facility rules.

Alternate housing facilities

These are residences in which three or more parolees live. They are not owned or operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Instead, they are typically operated by non-profit or faith-based organizations.

Buildings providing sleeping facilities

These buildings house guests whose work is regulated by the federal government or the state of Texas. For example, guests from organizations like the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Leaseback arrangements

In this scenario, the seller of a home is leasing the home back from the home buyer.

Houston before short-term rental regulations

Houston had a hands-off approach to short-term rentals for many years. Hosts didn’t need to register with the city to operate a short-term rental. They also didn’t have to pay annual fees, permit costs, or city-level occupancy taxes.

Hosts could also advertise their Airbnb as an event space. That led to resident complaints about noise, parties, crime, and property damage. But without formal laws, Houston officials couldn’t penalize troublesome properties.

That changed April 2005, when Houston City Council approved the ordinance creating regulations for short-term rental properties operating within Houston city limits. Now there are structured, enforceable short-term rental laws in place.

Get the guide:

Read Short-Term vs Long-Term Rentals in Houston: Why Houston’s Market Is Shifting Toward Flexible Leasing to understand how to make the most of your properties.

Your checklist of things to do so your short-term rental remains complaint

Step 1: Register your property starting August 1, 2025

The city is requiring all Airbnb hosts to register their property. That means you’ll need a:

Certificate of registration – This is required for each individual property. Clearly post the registration certificiate—and your 24/7 emergency contact info—at the entrance of your rental.
$275 registration fee – Plus an additional fee of about $33 in administrative costs.
Yearly renewal

You have until January 1, 2026 to register your property. After that, unregistered listings may be fined or taken down.

Step 2: Get your paperwork together

Before you apply, you’ll need to provide:

Proof that you own the property, or written permission if you’re a renter.
Proof you completed Human Trafficking Awareness Training.
Confirmation that you’re paying Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT).
A local contact who can respond to emergencies or issues within one hour

If you don’t live nearby, have a demanding schedule, or would like the flexibility travel during peak rental season, hiring a property manager might be a good fit for you.

Step 3: Make sure you're allowed to host

Houston is pretty flexible compared to other big cities because it doesn’t have zoning restrictions. That means you can host in residential or commercial areas. But private restrictions still apply. Double check:

HOAs that ban or restrict short-term rentals
Deed restrictions in your neighborhood
Condo association rules that ban STRs outright

Step 4: Make your property safe and guest-ready

The city isn’t just concerned with paperwork, they want to make sure your space is safe.

Before guests arrive:

Install smoke detectors, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers
Mark clear emergency exits
List your max occupancy and parking availability in your listing
Post emergency contact info and occupancy limits
Set and communicate house rules
Make sure your listing doesn’t promote parties or events

Houston isn’t setting a hard cap on occupancy yet, but repeat nuisance complaints, especially for noise or parking, can lead to fines or even losing your certificate.

Step 5: Handle taxes the right way

Houston hosts must collect and pay a 17% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). The breakdown looks like this:

6% to the State of Texas
7% to the City of Houston
4% to Harris County + Sports Authority

You’ll need to:

Check if Airbnb or Vrbo is collecting and remitting HOT for you. They usually are, but double-check.
If you use other platforms or take direct bookings, you’ll need to file and pay manually.
Optional: Talk to a tax pro to find out if Texas sales tax (~8.25%) applies to you.

Step 6: Avoid fines, hassles, and shutdowns

Fines for non-compliance are $100 to $500 per day. And if you get two nuisance violations in 12 months, you could lose your rental certificate.

Be a good host and:

Respond to neighbors or guest complaints quickly.
Set house rules (quiet hours, trash rules, no parties) and post them in the home.
Use tools like noise monitors to stop problems before they happen.
Check in on your listing regularly and keep it updated with accurate info.
Share house rules with every guest—especially around parking, trash, and noise.
Stay in good standing with your HOA or building if applicable.
Keep guest limits realistic to avoid crowding complaints.

Stay on top of Houston’s evolving short-term rental rules

Houston’s STR regulations are still new and they could evolve. Watch for updates on:

Occupancy caps: The city may define maximum guest counts in the future.
Enforcement funding: This is currently a concern among the city council and residents.
Insurance requirements: They’re not required now, but it’s smart to carry extra liability.
Possible new limits for condos or multi-family units

To stay ahead, consider:

Bookmarking the City of Houston’s short-term rentals info page once it launches
Signing up for updates from Airbnb or hosting forums
Signing up to get city newsletters and council district updates
Joining short-term rental forums and Facebook groups for Houston hosts
Checking for new enforcement trends, such as occupancy limits or additional taxes

Hiring a property management firm might be right for you

Becoming or continuing as a host in Houston is completely doable under the new law, as long as you stay organized. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the new requirements, hiring a property management firm might be a good fit for you.

We’re REvolution Investments, a Houston-based property management and investment firm. Let us monitor the changing rules, regulations, and laws and keep your Airbnb or investment property rental ready.

Some key dates to know are:

April 16, 2025 – Houston City Council adopts an ordinance creating regulations for short-term rental properties operating within Houston city limits.

August 1, 2025 – Ordinance implementation beings

January 1, 2026 – Ordinance enforcement begins

tl;dr: Houston’s new Airbnb rules start Aug 1, 2025 and enforce Jan 1, 2026. Hosts must register ($275 + annual renewal), post certificates, complete training, pay the 17% hotel tax, and meet safety/HOA rules. Non-compliance = $100–$500/day fines or loss of license.

Stay on the right side of the law and keep your listing running smoothly with this guide, which provides:

The definition of a short-term rental in Houston, plus a list of exemptions

A before-and-after comparison of what’s changed under the new ordinance

A checklist of requirements to complete so short-term rental hosts stay compliant

A list of things to monitor as short-term rental regulations continue to evolve

So, what qualifies for a short-term rental? According to the ordinance, it’s a dwelling unit or any portion of a dwelling unit that is rented out or offered to be rented out for a period of less than 30 consecutive days. That could be a home, apartment, or room you rent out.

But there are exceptions. They are:

Boarding homes

Bed and breakfasts (B&Bs)

These are typically found in residential areas. Unlike short-term rentals like Airbnbs, a B&B provide breakfast to guests as part of the lodging experience. That means certifications and following food service laws.

Hotels

Like bed and breakfasts that provide meal service, there are additional certifications needed and food service laws to follow.

Lodging facilities

Alternate housing facilities

These are residences in which three or more parolees live. They are not owned or operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Instead, they are typically operated by non-profit or faith-based organizations.

Buildings providing sleeping facilities

These buildings house guests whose work is regulated by the federal government or the state of Texas. For example, guests from organizations like the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Leaseback arrangements

In this scenario, the seller of a home is leasing the home back from the home buyer.

Houston before short-term rental regulations

Houston had a hands-off approach to short-term rentals for many years. Hosts didn’t need to register with the city to operate a short-term rental. They also didn’t have to pay annual fees, permit costs, or city-level occupancy taxes.

Hosts could also advertise their Airbnb as an event space. That led to resident complaints about noise, parties, crime, and property damage. But without formal laws, Houston officials couldn’t penalize troublesome properties.

That changed April 2005, when Houston City Council approved the ordinance creating regulations for short-term rental properties operating within Houston city limits. Now there are structured, enforceable short-term rental laws in place.

Get the guide:

Read Short-Term vs Long-Term Rentals in Houston: Why Houston’s Market Is Shifting Toward Flexible Leasing to understand how to make the most of your properties.

Your checklist of things to do so your short-term rental remains complaint

Step 1: Register your property starting August 1, 2025

The city is requiring all Airbnb hosts to register their property. That means you’ll need a:

Certificate of registration – This is required for each individual property. Clearly post the registration certificiate—and your 24/7 emergency contact info—at the entrance of your rental.

$275 registration fee – Plus an additional fee of about $33 in administrative costs.

Yearly renewal

You have until January 1, 2026 to register your property. After that, unregistered listings may be fined or taken down.

Step 2: Get your paperwork together

Before you apply, you’ll need to provide:

Proof that you own the property, or written permission if you’re a renter.

Proof you completed Human Trafficking Awareness Training.

Confirmation that you’re paying Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT).

A local contact who can respond to emergencies or issues within one hour

If you don’t live nearby, have a demanding schedule, or would like the flexibility travel during peak rental season, hiring a property manager might be a good fit for you.

Step 3: Make sure you're allowed to host

Houston is pretty flexible compared to other big cities because it doesn’t have zoning restrictions. That means you can host in residential or commercial areas. But private restrictions still apply. Double check:

HOAs that ban or restrict short-term rentals

Deed restrictions in your neighborhood

Condo association rules that ban STRs outright

Step 4: Make your property safe and guest-ready

The city isn’t just concerned with paperwork, they want to make sure your space is safe.

Before guests arrive:

Install smoke detectors, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers

Mark clear emergency exits

List your max occupancy and parking availability in your listing

Post emergency contact info and occupancy limits

Set and communicate house rules

Make sure your listing doesn’t promote parties or events

Houston isn’t setting a hard cap on occupancy yet, but repeat nuisance complaints, especially for noise or parking, can lead to fines or even losing your certificate.

Step 5: Handle taxes the right way

Houston hosts must collect and pay a 17% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). The breakdown looks like this:

6% to the State of Texas

7% to the City of Houston

4% to Harris County + Sports Authority

You’ll need to:

Check if Airbnb or Vrbo is collecting and remitting HOT for you. They usually are, but double-check.

If you use other platforms or take direct bookings, you’ll need to file and pay manually.

Optional: Talk to a tax pro to find out if Texas sales tax (~8.25%) applies to you.

Step 6: Avoid fines, hassles, and shutdowns

Fines for non-compliance are $100 to $500 per day. And if you get two nuisance violations in 12 months, you could lose your rental certificate.

Be a good host and:

Respond to neighbors or guest complaints quickly.

Set house rules (quiet hours, trash rules, no parties) and post them in the home.

Use tools like noise monitors to stop problems before they happen.

Check in on your listing regularly and keep it updated with accurate info.

Share house rules with every guest—especially around parking, trash, and noise.

Stay in good standing with your HOA or building if applicable.

Keep guest limits realistic to avoid crowding complaints.

Stay on top of Houston’s evolving short-term rental rules

Houston’s STR regulations are still new and they could evolve. Watch for updates on: