How do I start an Airbnb in Georgetown?

Confirm the property is inside Georgetown city limits and qualifies as a residential structure. Apply for the City STR permit, name a 24/7 local contact, document parking and occupancy, complete neighbor notice after issuance, register for City and State hotel taxes, and satisfy safety, insurance, and private restrictions before hosting.

What Georgetown properties qualify for STR use?

The ordinance covers a single-family home, accessory structure, apartment or condominium unit, or a portion of one within city limits. Hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, executive suites, and other nonresidential uses are excluded from this STR definition and follow separate rules.

How much does a Georgetown STR permit cost?

The City publishes a $100 nonrefundable fee for a new permit and a $50 renewal fee. Confirm the current fee schedule before filing because fees can change.

How long does a Georgetown STR permit last?

A permit expires one year after issuance or when property ownership changes. A renewal application should be filed at least 30 days before expiration, and changed application information must be reported within 10 days.

Does Georgetown require neighbor notice?

Yes. Within 10 days after permit issuance, the owner or operator must notify addresses within 200 feet. The notice includes the permit number, owner or operator identity, local contact information, and City website.

What operating rules apply to Georgetown STRs?

Post the occupancy limit and permit number at the entrance, give guests a parking plan, include the permit number in advertising, keep a local contact available 24/7, and comply with applicable alarm, extinguisher, egress, building, and fire requirements.

What lodging taxes apply to Georgetown STRs?

Georgetown imposes a 7% local hotel occupancy tax, and Texas imposes a separate 6% State hotel occupancy tax. Confirm taxable receipts, filing frequency, platform collections, exemptions, and current rules with each taxing authority.

When is Georgetown hotel occupancy tax due?

The City instructs operators to file and pay by the 20th day of the following month and to file required returns even when no tax is due. State filing may be monthly or quarterly depending on the Comptroller account.

Who handles Georgetown STR questions and complaints?

Email lodging@georgetowntexas.gov or call 512-930-3545 for City program questions. The City publishes 737-215-3392 as the 24-hour complaint hotline for active short-term-rental concerns.

How should I evaluate a Georgetown STR investment?

Start with city-limits confirmation, lawful residential use, permit eligibility, private restrictions, parking, safety, insurance, and City and State tax obligations. Then model property-specific demand, financing, operating costs, reserves, and downside scenarios without relying on unsupported citywide performance claims.

Georgetown, TX Airbnb Guide

Decision point

Georgetown STR Investment Decision

Georgetown requires a permit, local operating plan, tax compliance, and property-specific diligence before launch.

Confirm the parcel is inside Georgetown city limits before relying on the City short-term-rental program.
Treat lodging in a qualifying residential structure for fewer than 30 consecutive days as short-term rental use.
Budget for the City permit, local and State hotel occupancy taxes, safety work, insurance, and ongoing operations.
Review deed restrictions, condominium documents, leases, and lender terms because a City permit does not override private limits.
Underwrite the address and proposed operation rather than unsupported citywide revenue, occupancy, or return estimates.

Property eligibility

Georgetown STR Property Eligibility

The City program applies to qualifying residential structures within Georgetown municipal limits.

The ordinance covers a single-family home, accessory structure, apartment or condominium unit, or a portion of one.
Hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, executive suites, and other nonresidential uses follow separate rules.
Confirm lawful residential use, building status, and municipal jurisdiction for the exact parcel.
Do not infer permission from a Georgetown mailing address because an address may be outside city limits.
Check homeowners association and deed restrictions separately before acquisition or listing.

Licensing

Georgetown STR Permit Application

Operating a Georgetown short-term rental requires a valid City permit tied to the property.

Apply through the City registration process before owning or operating a short-term rental for guests.
Budget the published $100 nonrefundable new-application fee.
Provide owner or operator details, property information, bedroom count, and available off-street parking spaces.
Name a local contact with an address, email, and 24-hour telephone number.
Expect one permit per address unless the City approves the ordinance's special-exception process.

Renewal and notice

Georgetown Permit Renewal and Neighbor Notice

Permits expire, ownership changes end permit validity, and nearby addresses must receive notice.

A Georgetown STR permit expires one year after issuance or when property ownership changes.
Submit the renewal application at least 30 days before expiration and budget the published $50 renewal fee.
Report changes to application information to the City within 10 days.
Within 10 days after permit issuance, notify addresses within 200 feet of the permitted property.
Include the permit number, owner or operator identity, local contact information, and City website in the neighbor notice.

Operating rules

Georgetown Occupancy, Parking, and Advertising

The permit holder must communicate operating limits and keep permit information visible.

Post the applicable occupancy limit at the entrance and follow building and fire-code capacity requirements.
Give occupants a parking plan identifying the spaces available for the short-term rental.
Post the permit number inside the entrance and include it in rental advertising.
Keep the designated local contact available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to address complaints.
Maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and safe egress as required by applicable codes.

Taxes and filing

Georgetown Lodging Taxes and Filing

Georgetown and Texas administer separate hotel occupancy tax obligations for short-term lodging.

Register for Georgetown hotel occupancy tax and remit the City tax on the required schedule.
Calculate the City hotel occupancy tax at 7% of taxable receipts.
File and pay the Georgetown return by the 20th day of the following month, including required zero-due reports.
Register with the Texas Comptroller for the separate 6% State hotel occupancy tax.
Confirm whether a booking platform collects any tax and retain responsibility for tax the platform does not collect.

Compliance

Georgetown Complaints and Enforcement

Permit status depends on accurate records, tax compliance, and responsive operations.

Keep permit application information current and preserve records supporting permit and tax filings.
Give neighbors and the City a working local-contact route for prompt complaint response.
Use the City complaint hotline for active concerns about a permitted short-term rental.
Do not advertise or operate without the required permit number and valid permit.
Confirm current enforcement and appeal procedures with the City before relying on a disputed permit status.

Property analysis

Georgetown Property-Level Underwriting

A permit does not establish property performance, insurability, or private-use rights.

Model purchase price, financing, taxes, insurance, utilities, cleaning, repairs, platform costs, and reserves.
Use property-specific comparable stays and conservative scenarios instead of unsupported citywide earnings claims.
Price compliance work for alarms, extinguishers, egress, parking communication, signage, and neighbor notice.
Obtain written insurance confirmation for the proposed short-term-rental use and guest capacity.
Test downside cases for permit delay, tax changes, platform dependence, seasonality, and private restrictions.

Contacts and support

Georgetown STR Contacts and Support

Use the City permit team for licensing and local tax questions, and the State for Texas hotel tax.

Use Georgetown's online registration portal to submit and manage the City STR permit.
Email lodging@georgetowntexas.gov for City short-term-rental and hotel-tax assistance.
Call 512-930-3545 for Georgetown lodging-program questions.
Call the City's 24-hour STR complaint hotline at 737-215-3392 for active property concerns.
Contact the Texas Comptroller for State hotel occupancy tax registration and filing guidance.

Sources and review

Official Georgetown and Texas Sources

These official sources define the permit, operating, and lodging-tax requirements summarized here.

City of Georgetown short-term-rental program and permit guidance.
City of Georgetown askGTX permit and hotel occupancy tax guidance.
Georgetown Ordinance No. 2024-57 and codified Chapter 6.70.
City of Georgetown STR neighbor-notification form.
Texas Comptroller hotel occupancy tax guidance and filing rules.

For a Georgetown property strategy call, bring the address, permit status, bedroom count, parking plan, private restrictions, tax assumptions, insurance response, and operating budget. Plan a Georgetown Property Strategy Call

Georgetown Short-Term Rental Rules and Investment Review

Georgetown Rental Rules and Investment Review