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Austin short-term rental license: 2026 rules and platform enforcement
Austin overhauled its short-term rental rules in 2025 and started enforcing them through Airbnb and VRBO in July 2026. Unlicensed listings are now at real risk of removal.
Last updated October 2026
What changed
Austin adopted a major short-term rental ordinance in September 2025 that moved the city to a business-licensing model. It added spacing requirements between short-term rentals at single-family sites, stronger local contact requirements, and new obligations for booking platforms.
Platform enforcement
- Platforms must include a license number field on every Austin listing and require a valid number
- Platforms can't collect booking fees on unlicensed listings
- Platforms must remove a listing within 10 days of a city delisting notice
Direct bookings aren't covered by the platform rules, but the license requirement still applies to the rental itself.
The city is looking
Austin began scanning listings with compliance software in early 2026. By April it had flagged roughly 2,800 apparently unlicensed addresses, leading to notices of violation, citations and new license applications.
License cost and taxes
A new license lasts two years. City fees are based on processing costs and have changed during 2026, with new licenses costing roughly $740 to $840 depending on the fee schedule in effect. Confirm the current amount when you apply. Short-term rentals also owe Texas state and Austin hotel occupancy taxes. Platforms collect some of these for many bookings, but you may still have registration and filing duties.
Step-by-step
- Confirm the property meets zoning, spacing and ownership rules.
- Register for state and city hotel occupancy taxes.
- Apply for the city license through Austin's licensing system.
- Add your license number to every listing.
- Track the two-year renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license for an Airbnb in Austin?
Yes. Every short-term rental inside Austin city limits needs a city license, and platforms now require a valid license number on every listing.
What happens to unlicensed Austin listings?
Since July 1, 2026, platforms must remove a listing within 10 days of a city delisting notice and can't take fees on unlicensed bookings.
How long does an Austin STR license last?
A new license lasts two years.
Does Austin consider a 30-day stay a short-term rental?
No. Austin defines a short-term rental as a stay of fewer than 30 consecutive days.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees are current as of October 2026 based on city and industry sources, and they change often. Confirm with the city before applying.