Short-term rental rules · Galveston, Texas
Short-term rentals in Galveston, explained properly.
The City of Galveston allows short-term rentals with an annual, non-transferable city license. An updated ordinance approved by City Council on November 13, 2025 (effective on adoption) sets a $250 fee per unit, with licenses running January to December and a $500 late fee after December 31; requires a local contact who is available 24/7 and can respond within an hour; and requires an information sheet inside the unit covering occupancy, parking, quiet hours, local contact and emergency/flood-evacuation information. Violations are Class C misdemeanors with fines up to $500 per offense — up to $2,000 for health, sanitation, zoning or fire-safety violations — and three violations in 12 months make a license eligible for revocation. Since October 1, 2025 the city, not the Park Board, handles registration and HOT. Guests pay 15% hotel occupancy tax (6% state plus 9% city). These rules apply inside City of Galveston limits only, not Jamaica Beach or unincorporated areas such as Crystal Beach.
At a glance
What you need to know before you buy or list
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Annual registration with the city | Every STR needs a non-transferable annual license issued by the City of Galveston, which took over STR registration and hotel occupancy tax collection from the Park Board of Trustees on October 1, 2025; the city-issued registration number must appear in every advertisement and be displayed at the property [1] [2] [3] |
| $250 a year, $500 late fee | The November 2025 ordinance sets a $250 annual fee per unit; licenses run January to December, and registrations submitted after December 31 owe a $500 late fee [2] [4] |
| Local contact within one hour, 24/7 | Operators must designate a local contact who is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can respond to complaints within one hour [2] [4] |
| Information sheet posted inside the unit | Hosts must post an information sheet inside the unit listing maximum occupancy, parking rules, quiet hours and noise restrictions, the local contact, emergency numbers and flood-evacuation guidance; owners and operators are responsible for guests following city parking, trash, noise and public-safety rules [2] |
| Class C misdemeanor; three strikes in 12 months | Violations are Class C misdemeanors with fines up to $500 per offense, or up to $2,000 for health, sanitation, zoning or fire-safety violations; each day is a separate offense (per a secondary source); a license becomes eligible for revocation after three violations within 12 months, and a first revocation can last up to six months [2] [4] |
| 15% hotel occupancy tax | Inside City of Galveston limits, guests pay 6% state hotel occupancy tax (remitted to the Texas Comptroller) plus 9% city hotel occupancy tax (15% combined); the city tax applies to gross revenue including the nightly rate, cleaning, pet and smoking fees and rental damages, and city reports are due by the 20th of the month after the reporting period, with a $25 fine for a missed report even with no revenue. Jamaica Beach and unincorporated areas such as Crystal Beach are outside this market and have different rates [3] [5] |
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Recent and pending changes
We checked the city's November 2025 STR ordinance announcement, the city STR owner page, the Texas Comptroller HOT FAQ (last updated July 8, 2025; no state rate change) and local news. No 2026 amendments found. The city STR owner page still shows a 2022 registration deadline, and the city HOT page could not be loaded automatically. Keep watching City Council agendas and the city STR pages; the ordinance number and any occupancy formula still need confirming in the city code.
City Council voted in June 2025 to take hotel occupancy tax collection and STR registration back from the Park Board of Trustees (assigned to it in 2015), effective October 1, 2025.
City Council approved comprehensive STR ordinance updates on November 13, 2025, effective on adoption: $250 annual license per unit, $500 late fee, 24/7 local contact responding within one hour, required in-unit information sheet, and revocation eligibility after three violations in 12 months.
Sources
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This page is general information compiled from public sources, not legal or tax advice. HOA rules, deed restrictions and zoning for a specific property can be stricter. Confirm with the local permitting office and a qualified professional before buying or listing a property.