Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Henderson County, TX

Airbnb listings are allowed in Henderson County, TX, but with restrictions. STRs in Athens require a permit and must maintain $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons, and a minimum stay of 24 hours is required. Properties must also have a local contact available and collect hotel occupancy taxes. 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.

STRs in Athens require a permit and must maintain $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons, and a minimum stay of 24 hours is required. Properties must also have a local contact available and collect hotel occupancy taxes.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Henderson County. 1. Submit a completed permit application to the Development Services Department along with a $200 fee. 2. Schedule and pass a premises inspection by the Building & Inspections Department. 3. Receive the permit, which must be renewed annually.

1. Submit a completed permit application to the Development Services Department along with a $200 fee. 2. Schedule and pass a premises inspection by the Building & Inspections Department. 3. Receive the permit, which must be renewed annually.

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