Wichita County, Texas
Wichita Falls, TX vacation rental requirements
Wichita Falls requires every short-term rental to register for city hotel tax before it’s advertised; registration is free. Stays owe 6% state plus 9% city hotel tax (7% plus a 2% venue tax), which Airbnb doesn’t collect; file monthly in the city’s GovOS portal.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
The FAQ defines a short-term rental as a “legally licensed dwelling”; ask Planning whether zoning allows one at your address.
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
Wichita County, Texas
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
City of Wichita Falls
Register before you list
Register each rental for city hotel tax in the GovOS (MUNIRevs) portal before you advertise or rent it. 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. Wichita Falls charges 9% on gross rents, including cleaning, pet, and booking fees. It isn’t on Airbnb’s collection list: file monthly by the 20th (quarterly if approved), with a zero return when you have no stays. Late returns add 5%, then 5% more at 30 days.Source
Fees
No registration fee
| Hotel tax registration | $0 |
|---|---|
| Card payment service fee | $2.95 |
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 FAQ (GovOS portal) · City of Wichita Falls (GovOS)
- 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.