Williamson County, Texas
Cedar Park, TX vacation rental requirements
Cedar Park adopted a short-term rental registration in April 2026, effective October 1, 2026: every rental property registers with the city and pays $100 a year. Stays owe 6% state plus 7% city hotel tax, which you file yourself.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
We read about this ordinance in local news; we couldn’t read the ordinance or the city’s registration page. Confirm the requirements with the city.
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
Williamson 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
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. Outside city limits, only the state tax applies. Airbnb doesn’t collect any city hotel tax in Williamson County.Source
City of Cedar Park
Register with the city
Register each short-term rental (all or part of a home rented 30 days or less) with the city and pay the $100 yearly fee. Ask the city for the application portal.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. Cedar Park’s 7% hotel tax isn’t on Airbnb’s collection list, so register with the city and file it yourself, Airbnb bookings included.Source
Fees
| Annual registration | $100 per property |
|---|
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
- Cedar Park approves short-term rental registration (Community Impact newsletter, spring 2026) · Community Impact
- Local Hotel Occupancy Tax Reporting 2025 · Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (data.texas.gov)
- 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.