Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Galveston County, TX

Airbnb listings are allowed in Galveston County, TX, but with restrictions. No county-level STR ordinance was located for Galveston County; regulations apply at the municipal level. In the City of Galveston, STRs must be licensed annually, display registration numbers in ads, pay a $250 fee, and maintain a 24/7 local contact. League City requires a $300 annual permit, fire/safety inspections, and floor plans. 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.

No county-level STR ordinance was located for Galveston County; regulations apply at the municipal level. In the City of Galveston, STRs must be licensed annually, display registration numbers in ads, pay a $250 fee, and maintain a 24/7 local contact. League City requires a $300 annual permit, fire/safety inspections, and floor plans.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Galveston County. For the City of Galveston: Register annually via the city's online portal and pay a $250 fee per unit. For League City: Submit an application via the Online Permit Portal with required documents, pay a $300 fee, and pass a mandatory fire and safety inspection.

For the City of Galveston: Register annually via the city's online portal and pay a $250 fee per unit. For League City: Submit an application via the Online Permit Portal with required documents, pay a $300 fee, and pass a mandatory fire and safety inspection.

Vrbo is permitted in Galveston County, 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 Galveston County 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 Galveston County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.