Short-Term Rentals Inside Austin City Limits

The City of Austin requires a license for any short-term rental (STR), meaning rentals shorter than 30 consecutive days. There are different license types depending on whether the owner lives on site. As of late 2025, licenses are valid for two years. A new license costs $836.30; renewals cost $385.30.

Single-family properties can have up to two STR units, but extra units must be at least 1,000 feet apart. There are noise rules: sound equipment must be inaudible past the property line after 10 p.m., and music or voices after 10:30 p.m. Owners must have a local contact (in the Austin metro area) available within two hours for emergencies. Starting July 1, 2026, the city will begin removing unlicensed properties from booking platforms. Visit Austin's short-term rentals page for the full rules.