College Station Airbnb Rules & Investment Guide (2026)

A College Station mailing address does not prove that a property is inside City limits or establish its zoning, lawful use, or recorded condition.

• Confirm the parcel in the City Planning and Development Map and match it to Brazos Central Appraisal District records.
• Verify City limits, zoning, subdivision restrictions, current use, and permit history with Planning and Development Services.
• Use the City short-term-rental map as a screening tool, not as a substitute for written approval.
• Obtain written address-specific direction before acquisition, conversion, or advertising.

College Station prohibits renting or offering a dwelling for fewer than 30 consecutive days without a valid short-term-rental permit.

• Apply through the City Deckard portal and include the owner, operator, property, hotel-tax account, and required local-contact information.
• Display the unique permit number in every advertisement, including internet booking listings.
• The permit is property-specific, expires after one year, and does not transfer when the property is sold.
• Confirm zoning, lawful use, private restrictions, and any construction approvals separately from STR registration.

The City reviews the application, tax standing, fees, and life-safety inspection before issuing the permit.

• The City currently lists a $100 permit fee and a $100 inspection fee.
• A failed inspection carries a listed $124 fee, and the listed renewal fee is $75.
• A renewal may use life-safety self-certification when the City waives a new inspection.
• Reconfirm current fees and filing requirements in the Deckard portal before submitting or renewing.

The ordinance requires a local contact within 30 miles of College Station City Hall who can access the property and make decisions.

• The local contact must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and respond in person within one hour to complaints.
• Provide guests a brochure with operator contact information, parking, noise, amplified-sound, trash, emergency, and severe-weather information.
• Maintain smoke alarms, a carbon-monoxide detector when gas or propane is used, and a rated fire extinguisher on every floor.
• Keep the dwelling compliant with applicable building and fire codes and preserve records supporting each requirement.

College Station imposes a 7% local hotel occupancy tax, and Texas imposes a 6% state hotel occupancy tax on qualifying short stays.

• The City states that STR operators file and pay local hotel occupancy tax monthly through the Deckard portal.
• City reports and payments are due by the 20th day after the month of collection, while the ordinance requires remittance no later than the last business day. Use the earlier published deadline unless the City confirms otherwise.
• A booking platform may collect some taxes, but the operator remains responsible for verifying City and state accounts, direct-booking duties, exemptions, and filing treatment.
• Reconcile taxable rent and required charges across platform statements, direct reservations, City filings, and Texas Comptroller filings.

An STR permit does not approve additions, conversions, occupancy changes, electrical work, plumbing work, or other regulated construction.

• Use the Unified Development Ordinance and Planning and Development Map to identify zoning and development constraints.
• Review permit history and submit required building or trade applications through eTRAKiT.
• Ask Planning and Development Services whether the existing dwelling and proposed guest use are lawful at the address.
• Do not begin construction or accept guests until required permits, inspections, and final approvals are complete.

Public records should agree on the parcel, owner, dwelling, improvements, legal description, and taxable account.

• Compare Brazos Central Appraisal District data with City GIS, permit records, survey, title commitment, and deed records.
• Investigate unpermitted improvements, accessory spaces, bedroom counts, parking assumptions, and open enforcement matters.
• Confirm whether deed restrictions, condominium documents, leases, or lender terms prohibit or limit transient rental use.
• Use qualified title, survey, legal, and inspection professionals to resolve conflicts before closing.

Flood and severe-weather exposure varies by parcel and can affect access, repairs, safety planning, insurance, and operating continuity.

• Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and local drainage information for the exact parcel.
• Inspect roof, drainage, foundation, electrical, HVAC, smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide protection, and fire extinguishers.
• Confirm insurer acceptance of the proposed STR use, occupancy pattern, liability profile, and local-contact plan.
• Underwrite deductibles, exclusions, loss-of-income limits, emergency response, and capital reserves without relying on citywide averages.

A City STR permit does not override deed restrictions, association rules, leases, loan covenants, or insurance exclusions.

• Obtain and review every recorded restriction and current association rule before waiving contingencies.
• Request written lender and insurer confirmation when transient use affects financing or coverage.
• Check whether management agreements or platform terms create additional operating obligations.
• Treat unresolved private restrictions as a property-level acquisition risk even when municipal registration is available.

Use verified property costs, legal capacity, operating limits, booking evidence, taxes, insurance, and reserves rather than generic market claims.

• Model base, downside, and interruption cases using address-specific expenses and conservative revenue evidence.
• Include permit, inspection, renewal, local-contact, tax, maintenance, utilities, cleaning, platform, insurance, and capital costs.
• Stress-test event-driven demand, quieter periods, cancellations, repairs, tax changes, and permit interruption.
• Commit capital only after municipal, tax, construction, private, financing, and insurance eligibility is documented.

Official sources checked September 28, 2026. Rules, forms, rates, and workflows can change. Reconfirm every requirement before acquisition or operation.

STR registration and complaints: College Station Code Enforcement Division, 979-764-6363. Registration email: str@cstx.gov. Complaint email: codeenforcement@cstx.gov.

Planning, zoning, building, and permit questions: Planning and Development Services, 979-764-3570, cspds@cstx.gov, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840.

Use public offices for legal eligibility, permitting, tax, and enforcement decisions. STR Search can compare candidate properties and build an address-specific acquisition plan after public and private eligibility is confirmed.