Texas county rules
Hays County, TX vacation rental rules and taxes
Hays County has no short-term rental rules and reports no county hotel tax. Wimberley requires a conditional use permit for every rental; Dripping Springs, San Marcos, and Kyle charge city hotel taxes.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026What to do
Then your city
Texas counties can’t zone, so rental rules come from the city your home is in. Outside city limits there’s usually no permit, but deed restrictions and HOA rules may limit rentals. Pick your city.Source
Towns
Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs charges a 7% city hotel tax on short-term rentals, and says it applies in its extraterritorial jurisdiction too. Airbnb doesn’t collect it, so hosts file quarterly with the city. We didn’t find a separate rental permit.
Full guideKyle
Kyle has a real vacation rental market, but we couldn’t confirm its short-term rental rules online. Stays owe 6% state + 7% city hotel tax. Ask the city before you list.
Full guideSan Marcos
San Marcos has a real vacation rental market, but we couldn’t confirm its short-term rental rules online. Stays owe 6% state + 7% city + 2% venue hotel tax. Ask the city before you list.
Full guideWimberley
Every short-term rental in Wimberley needs a conditional use permit approved by the city council after public hearings, except an owner-occupied rental in a commercial zone. Whole-home rentals can no longer get a permit in the R-3 zone. A moratorium on new applications ended in September 2026. Stays owe 6% state plus 7% city hotel tax.
Sources
- County zoning authority (Local Government Code ch. 231) · Texas Legislature
- Texas Airbnb market data (active listings) · AirROI
- Local Hotel Occupancy Tax Reporting 2025 · Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (data.texas.gov)
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 Spot something out of date?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.