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HomeShort-Term Rental LawsTexasHoustonRegistration

Before you list

Houston STR Registration: Step-by-Step

Prepare the Houston Registration: prerequisites, documents, fees, application steps, verification, and post-approval work.

  • Property eligibility
  • Official sources
  • You control every submission

Approval path

One Property, One Ordered Path from Requirements to Renewal.

Confirm the Property

Verify the address, jurisdiction, property type, eligibility rules, and private restrictions.

Prepare 3 Readiness Checks

Bring the host, ownership, residence, tax, insurance, and supporting records into one file.

Follow 5 Ordered Stages

Work through the government sequence, then retain the submitted record and confirmation.

Verify and Maintain

Confirm the issued approval, publish required details, and track taxes, changes, and renewal.

Houston approval outcome

The goal is an active Houston Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration tied to the correct property, operator, tax accounts, and listing information.

Allowed after registering the property and receiving a City-issued Certificate of Registration. The City registration page does not publish a universal primary-residence restriction.

Register before operating and provide the City number to each booking platform; platform removal notices begin January 1, 2027.

Eligibility checks before the Houston application

  • Confirm jurisdiction and eligibility

    Match the street address to Houston authority and confirm the property class can use Houston Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration. If either the boundary or eligible-use result differs, stop before opening the application.

    Required

  • Resolve the residency rule

    Registrant identification and complete contact details.

    Required

  • Hotel occupancy tax proof or the Airbnb-only attestation described by the City

    Save the records that prove this classification; if the operator or dwelling cannot meet it, choose a lawful rental path before paying a fee.

    Required

Complete the Houston application

Complete the process through the official Houston Short-Term Rental Registration Portal.

  1. Create and activate the registration account

    Register in the City portal, activate the account from the confirmation email, and sign in. Pay the registration fee published in the City portal for each application. If a marketplace handles collection, confirm the operator report still required for direct or zero-activity periods.

    Create the portal account with the registrant's contact information, then activate it by email.

  2. Complete the profile and identify the registrant role

    Finish the registration profile and choose whether the registrant is the property owner or an operator.

    Complete every required profile field; the example values are pixelated for privacy.
    Confirm the profile details and choose the property-owner or operator role that matches the registrant.

  3. Enter the property and emergency contact

    Find the STR address, identify the owner, and provide the complete 24-hour emergency-contact record.

    Search for the rental address and confirm the property details before continuing.

  4. Add listing links and hotel-occupancy-tax information

    Disclose every booking platform and listing link and provide the applicable hotel-occupancy-tax information. State, City, and county hotel occupancy tax responsibilities remain separate from the City registration.

  5. Upload documents, review, and submit payment

    Complete the application in one session, upload the required records, accept the terms, pay, and retain the confirmation.

Verify the Result

  • Confirm the government status is active

    A receipt, draft, correction notice, or pending status is not approval; resolve it with Houston authority before accepting a stay.

    Required

  • Check the listing number

    Match the issued number, address, unit, operator, and expiration to every Houston listing. Correct a missing number or property mismatch before the listing is made bookable.

    Required

  • Calendar tax and renewal work

    Follow Texas and applicable local HOT filing rules for direct and platform bookings. Renew on the schedule associated with the City certificate.

    Required

Common Causes of Delay or Denial

  • Wrong jurisdiction or property type

    A Houston STR Registration application filing belongs only in Houston authority's program and the eligible property class for Houston Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration. If the address, zoning/use result, or approval category differs, correct that decision before resubmitting.

  • Applicant and property records do not match

    Reconcile the applicant name, street and unit, ownership or tenancy record, tax account, and portal profile used for Houston Short-Term Rental Certificate of Registration. Fix the source record that is wrong instead of uploading another conflicting copy.

  • Missing operating prerequisites

    The City may review the property and investigate compliance with registration and operating rules. The City registration page does not list a standalone insurance upload; confirm owner, lease, and platform coverage separately.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Register before operating and provide the City number to each booking platform; platform removal notices begin January 1, 2027.

Pay the registration fee published in the City portal for each application.

Certificates issued on or before December 31, 2026, expire December 31, 2027.