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Texas · Gillespie County

Gillespie County

county Allowed Verified · last verified 2026-07-11

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Gillespie County are allowed with no county STR license, permit, or zoning restriction — Texas counties generally lack authority to zone unincorporated land, so the county imposes no operating permit on rural STRs. The only county-level obligation is collecting and remitting the 7% county hotel occupancy tax (HOT), which applies to lodging outside the City of Fredericksburg and its ETJ and took effect January 1, 2007. Combined lodging tax on an unincorporated stay is 6% state HOT + 7% county HOT = 13%. Inside the City of Fredericksburg STRs require a city permit and are governed by the city ordinance (updated effective Jan 1, 2026 to require annual renewal and inspection), not the county; STRs in the City's ETJ are exempt from the city permit. Texas has no statewide STR license or registration and no statewide preemption of local STR rules in effect as of 2026-07-11.

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

Requirements checklist

  • county Gillespie County Hotel Occupancy Tax registration and remittance Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Periodic HOT returns/remittances (ongoing) · Applies to: Any lodging establishment (hotel, motel, bed & breakfast, condominium, apartment, or house rented for less than 30 consecutive days) located outside the City of Fredericksburg and its ETJ · official page ↗
  • county County short-term rental permit / license Not required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: Unincorporated Gillespie County short-term rentals · official page ↗
  • state Texas state Hotel Occupancy Tax registration and remittance Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Ongoing periodic returns · Applies to: Hotels, motels, B&Bs, condominiums, apartments, and houses rented for under 30 days at $15 or more per day, statewide · official page ↗

Taxes

TaxRateAdministered byAirbnb remitsVrbo remits
Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax 6% Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — —
Gillespie County Hotel Occupancy Tax 7% Gillespie County Treasurer — —

Lodging-tax estimator

Estimate the combined transient/lodging tax (~13.0%) on a stay in Gillespie 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 Gillespie County imposes no zoning-based STR restriction on rural properties. Land-use controls in the unincorporated county are limited to subdivision and on-site sewage (well/septic) regulation, not STR operating restrictions. No county STR ordinance was found on official sources as of 2026-07-11.

  • County has no STR permit, registration, occupancy cap, or minimum-stay rule for unincorporated properties; the only county obligation is remitting the 7% county HOT.
  • STRs inside the City of Fredericksburg are governed by the city's STR ordinance and require a city permit — those rules are a city-layer matter, not county. The city ordinance was updated effective Jan 1, 2026 to require annual permit renewal and a mandatory annual inspection.
  • STRs in the City's ETJ are exempt from the city permit requirement.
  • No statewide Texas STR preemption law is in effect as of 2026-07-11; 89th Legislature bills SB 104 / HB 109 had hearings but no votes and were not enacted. STRs remain regulated locally.

Enforcement

Active enforcement
yes
Fines
—
Notes
Primary county enforcement mechanism is collection of the 7% county HOT via the Gillespie County Treasurer; late or unremitted HOT is subject to the county's remittance and audit process. No county STR operating-permit enforcement exists for unincorporated properties because no such permit is required. STR permit enforcement (fines, revocation, inspection) applies inside the City of Fredericksburg under the city ordinance, not at the county layer.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Gillespie County?
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Gillespie County are allowed with no county STR license, permit, or zoning restriction — Texas counties generally lack authority to zone unincorporated land, so the county imposes no operating permit on rural STRs. The only county-level obligation is collecting and remitting the 7% county hotel occupancy tax (HOT), which applies to lodging outside the City of Fredericksburg and its ETJ and took effect January 1, 2007. Combined lodging tax on an unincorporated stay is 6% state HOT + 7% county HOT = 13%. Inside the City of Fredericksburg STRs require a city permit and are governed by the city ordinance (updated effective Jan 1, 2026 to require annual renewal and inspection), not the county; STRs in the City's ETJ are exempt from the city permit. Texas has no statewide STR license or registration and no statewide preemption of local STR rules in effect as of 2026-07-11.
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Gillespie County?
Yes — Gillespie County requires: Gillespie County Hotel Occupancy Tax registration and remittance; Texas state Hotel Occupancy Tax registration and remittance. See the requirements checklist for fees, renewal, and official links.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Gillespie County?
Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%), Gillespie County Hotel Occupancy Tax (7%) — roughly 13.0% combined. Use the lodging-tax estimator on this page for a specific stay.

Official sources

Related coverage

In Texas

Cities in this county Fredericksburg

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