Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Gainesville, TX

Airbnb listings are allowed in Gainesville, TX, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are allowed only via issuance of a Special Use Permit (SUP) in applicable zoning districts; SUP applications must specify STR location, contact information, and type (owner-occupied or not). SUPs are subject to applicable Building and Fire Codes, require a Certificate of Occupancy to operate, and may include conditions (e.g., revocation upon sale) imposed by Council. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are allowed only via issuance of a Special Use Permit (SUP) in applicable zoning districts; SUP applications must specify STR location, contact information, and type (owner-occupied or not). SUPs are subject to applicable Building and Fire Codes, require a Certificate of Occupancy to operate, and may include conditions (e.g., revocation upon sale) imposed by Council.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Gainesville. 1) Submit a Special Use Permit application to the City’s Community Development/Planning & Zoning department including a completed application, site plan/survey, parking information, and a tax certificate; include STR location, contact, and type. 2) Pay the SUP application fee (General Request: $600 stated) and undergo the approval process which requires two public hearings (Planning & Zoning and City Council) with an approximate 60-day timeline. 3) If SUP is approved, obtain a Certificate of Occupancy and comply with all applicable Building and Fire Codes.

1) Submit a Special Use Permit application to the City’s Community Development/Planning & Zoning department including a completed application, site plan/survey, parking information, and a tax certificate; include STR location, contact, and type. 2) Pay the SUP application fee (General Request: $600 stated) and undergo the approval process which requires two public hearings (Planning & Zoning and City Council) with an approximate 60-day timeline. 3) If SUP is approved, obtain a Certificate of Occupancy and comply with all applicable Building and Fire Codes.

Vrbo is permitted in Gainesville, TX under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Gainesville are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Gainesville. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.