Galveston County, Texas
Kemah, TX vacation rental requirements
Kemah requires a yearly short-term rental permit, $450 (as low as $300 with a sound monitoring system), and the city inspects each rental to set its maximum occupancy and parking. Stays owe 6% state plus 7% city hotel tax, which owners file quarterly themselves.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
Late hotel tax returns owe a 5% penalty.
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
Galveston County, Texas
Then pick your city
Texas counties can’t zone, so rental permits and the local hotel tax are set by each city. Pick your city, or the unincorporated page if you’re outside city limits.Source
Expect a business personal property account
Since May 2024 the Galveston County Appraisal District treats short-term rentals as businesses and values their furnishings and fixtures for property tax. If you disagree with the value, protest by the deadline on your notice.Source
City of Kemah, Texas
Apply for the permit
Email the completed short-term rental application to the city and pay $450. If you have an approved sound monitoring system (such as Minut or NoiseAware), send proof for a credit of up to $150. Applications for the next year open November 1.Source
Pass the city inspection
The city inspects within 30 days to set your maximum occupancy and on-site parking and check basic health and safety. If anything fails, the Building Official sends a written list to fix.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. Kemah’s 7% hotel tax isn’t collected by Airbnb. File a quarterly return with the city (due April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31), even at $0, and pay by check or card.Source
Fees
$450 a year, or $300 with a sound monitor
| Annual STR permit | $450 |
|---|---|
| Sound monitoring credit | Up to $150 off |
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
- As short-term rentals bloom, Galveston County, Bay Area cities scramble to regulate them (August 1, 2024) · Community Impact
- Short Term Rental Owner · City of Kemah
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.