Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Washington County, TX

Airbnbs are effectively legal in Washington County, TX because there are no specific short-term rental regulations on the books. Washington County and the City of Brenham do not publish a short-term rental licensing or zoning ordinance; however, both the City (inside city limits) and the County (outside city limits) impose a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 days or fewer. The County notes that compliant rentals should be registered with the Chamber of Commerce and the State of Texas for promotion. Operators should still verify HOA rules, state-level requirements, and any tax-collection obligations. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Washington County and the City of Brenham do not publish a short-term rental licensing or zoning ordinance; however, both the City (inside city limits) and the County (outside city limits) impose a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 days or fewer. The County notes that compliant rentals should be registered with the Chamber of Commerce and the State of Texas for promotion.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Washington County.

Vrbo is effectively legal in Washington County, TX for the same reason Airbnb is: there are no short-term-rental-specific regulations on the books. Operators should still check HOA, state, and tax obligations before listing. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Washington 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 Washington County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.