Collin County, Texas
McKinney, TX vacation rental requirements
McKinney began requiring free yearly registration of every short-term rental in April 2026, with a contact reachable 24 hours a day. Airbnb and Vrbo collect the city’s 7% hotel tax.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
Operating without registering is a Class C misdemeanor.
Your licensing checklist
In order: the state, the county, then the town.
State of Texas
Know who pays the hotel tax
Airbnb collects and pays the 6% state hotel tax on its bookings. If guests pay you directly or through a site that doesn’t collect, register with the Comptroller and file the state tax yourself.Source
Register for local hotel tax
Your city (and in some places your county) charges its own hotel tax, filed with that city or county, not the state. Airbnb pays it only in the places on its list; everywhere else you register and file it yourself, even for Airbnb bookings.Source
Check your city’s rules
Many Texas cities require a short-term rental permit or registration, and some require an inspection, a local contact, or posted rules. Outside city limits there’s usually no permit, but deed restrictions and HOA rules often limit rentals. Pick your area for the local rules.Source
Collin County, Texas
Then pick your city
Texas counties can’t zone, so short-term rental permits, zoning limits, and the local hotel tax come from the city your home is in. Outside city limits there’s usually no permit, but deed restrictions and HOA rules often limit rentals.Source
City of McKinney
Register each unit
Register every rental unit each year in the city’s Customer Self-Service portal (choose Apply and search “Short-term rental”), or in person at Development Services on the second floor of City Hall. There’s no fee.Source
Hotel taxes on each stay
Stays of 29 nights or less owe the 6% state hotel tax, which Airbnb collects on its bookings. If guests pay you directly, file it with the Texas Comptroller. Airbnb and Vrbo collect McKinney’s 7% hotel tax. For direct bookings, register and file with the city.Source
Fees
Free
| Short-term rental registration (annual)The council may add a fee after a year. | $0 |
|---|
Sources
- Hotel Occupancy Tax FAQs: Airbnb · Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Texas · Airbnb
- County zoning authority (Local Government Code ch. 231) · Texas Legislature
- Short-Term Rental Registration · City of McKinney Development Services
- McKinney to enact registration program for short-term rentals (March 5, 2026) · Community Impact
- Texas Airbnb market data (active listings) · AirROI
A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.