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Texas · Galveston County

Galveston County

county Allowed Needs review · last verified 2026-07-11

Galveston County does not impose a county-level short-term rental (STR) license or registration on properties in its unincorporated areas, and Texas counties generally lack authority to zone unincorporated land, so STRs are effectively allowed there subject only to tax obligations and any HOA/deed restrictions. Operators must collect and remit the Texas state Hotel Occupancy Tax of 6% (Tex. Tax Code ch. 156, administered by the Texas Comptroller) on stays of under 30 days costing $15+/day. Whether Galveston County itself imposes a county HOT (Tex. Tax Code ch. 352) on unincorporated STRs could not be confirmed from any official county source; third-party sources cite 9%, but that 9% is the City of Galveston's city HOT, not a county rate. STRs located inside incorporated cities (e.g., City of Galveston, Jamaica Beach, Tiki Island, League City) are governed by those cities' own ordinances and city HOT, not by the county. Texas has no statewide STR preemption or statewide STR license in effect as of 2026-07-11, so regulation is entirely local.

Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-11 · sources linked below.

Requirements checklist

  • county County STR license/registration Not required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: STRs in unincorporated Galveston County · official page ↗
  • state State STR license/registration Not required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: All STRs in Texas · official page ↗
  • state Texas Comptroller Hotel Occupancy Tax registration Conditional
    Fee: $0 / one-time · Renewal: — · Applies to: Operators renting rooms/homes for stays under 30 days at $15+/day · official page ↗

Taxes

TaxRateAdministered byAirbnb remitsVrbo remits
Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax 6% Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — —
Galveston County Hotel Occupancy Tax — Galveston County Tax Assessor-Collector — —

Lodging-tax estimator

Estimate the combined transient/lodging tax (~6.0%) on a stay in Galveston County. Estimate only — not tax advice.

Operating rules

Primary residence
No
Min stay (nights)
—
Max nights / year
—
Max occupancy
—
Zoning-restricted
No
Cap on licenses
—

Zoning: Texas counties generally cannot zone unincorporated land, so Galveston County imposes no STR zoning restrictions in unincorporated areas; land-use limits apply only inside incorporated cities.

  • No county STR ordinance or license identified for unincorporated Galveston County (anchored to third-party guide + county tax-office guidance, not an official county ordinance).
  • STRs inside incorporated cities (City of Galveston, Jamaica Beach, Tiki Island, League City, etc.) are governed by those cities' own ordinances, not the county.
  • HOA/deed restrictions and community rules may independently restrict STRs in unincorporated subdivisions.
  • County record is intentionally thin: primary regulation of Galveston County STRs occurs at the city level.

Enforcement

Active enforcement
no
Fines
—
Notes
No county-level STR enforcement program identified for unincorporated Galveston County; the county's role is limited to any applicable HOT collection. STR enforcement (registration, local-contact/response rules, penalties) occurs at the city level. For context, the City of Galveston adopted updated STR regulations on 2025-11-13 (24/7 local contact required, 1-hour response / 2-hour resolution after complaints; 2026 registration fee $250). Those are city-level rules and belong to the City of Galveston record, not this county record.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Galveston County?
Galveston County does not impose a county-level short-term rental (STR) license or registration on properties in its unincorporated areas, and Texas counties generally lack authority to zone unincorporated land, so STRs are effectively allowed there subject only to tax obligations and any HOA/deed restrictions. Operators must collect and remit the Texas state Hotel Occupancy Tax of 6% (Tex. Tax Code ch. 156, administered by the Texas Comptroller) on stays of under 30 days costing $15+/day. Whether Galveston County itself imposes a county HOT (Tex. Tax Code ch. 352) on unincorporated STRs could not be confirmed from any official county source; third-party sources cite 9%, but that 9% is the City of Galveston's city HOT, not a county rate. STRs located inside incorporated cities (e.g., City of Galveston, Jamaica Beach, Tiki Island, League City) are governed by those cities' own ordinances and city HOT, not by the county. Texas has no statewide STR preemption or statewide STR license in effect as of 2026-07-11, so regulation is entirely local.
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Galveston County?
Yes — Galveston County requires: Texas Comptroller Hotel Occupancy Tax registration. See the requirements checklist for fees, renewal, and official links.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Galveston County?
Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%), Galveston County Hotel Occupancy Tax — roughly 6.0% combined. Use the lodging-tax estimator on this page for a specific stay.

Official sources

Related coverage

In Texas

Cities in this county Galveston

Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.