How do I start an Airbnb in Marble Falls, Texas?

Confirm the address is inside City limits, verify zoning and private restrictions, obtain the City short-term-rental permit before operating or advertising, complete the required inspection, register for lodging taxes, and establish local responsible-party coverage.

What does a Marble Falls short-term-rental application require?

The City lists owner and operator information, a local responsible party, a parking plot plan, a floor and evacuation plan, proof of $1 million per-occurrence insurance, association information when applicable, and proposed host rules.

How much is a Marble Falls short-term-rental permit?

The City FAQ currently lists a $175 fee after application approval. Permits renew annually, and current fees and payment instructions should be confirmed with Development Services before filing.

Does Marble Falls inspect short-term rentals?

Yes. The City says an inspection is required before a permit is issued and again at renewal to verify minimum health and safety requirements for use and occupancy.

What is the Marble Falls short-term-rental occupancy limit?

The ordinance limits occupancy to two people per bedroom plus two additional people, with no more than 12 people total, including children. The permit may state a lower lawful capacity for the property.

What parking rules apply to Marble Falls short-term rentals?

Vehicles are limited to lawful off-street spaces plus on-street spaces immediately fronting the rental. Unimproved-surface parking and directing guests to park on other residential street frontage are prohibited.

Does Marble Falls require a local responsible party?

Yes. The responsible party must be reachable in person or by phone whenever the rental is occupied and must be able to appear at the premises within one hour when contacted by the City.

What lodging taxes apply to a Marble Falls short-term rental?

Current City materials state a 7% Marble Falls hotel occupancy tax, and Texas imposes a separate 6% state hotel occupancy tax on qualifying stays. Confirm registration, taxable receipts, marketplace treatment, filing schedules, and exemptions with each taxing authority.

Can Marble Falls revoke a short-term-rental permit?

Yes. Grounds include repeated citations, failure to satisfy permit conditions after notice, false application statements, or later disqualification. The ordinance provides a one-year waiting period after revocation before another permit may be issued for the premises.

How should I underwrite a Marble Falls Airbnb property?

Use the approved guest capacity, lawful parking, actual property records, verified booking evidence when available, and documented operating costs. Stress-test permit delays, inspection work, insurance, taxes, maintenance, management, and lower booking volume without relying on unsupported market-wide projections.

Marble Falls, TX Airbnb Guide

Decision point

Marble Falls STR Investment Decision

Treat City jurisdiction, permit eligibility, lawful capacity, insurance, safety, taxes, and verified property economics as the first acquisition screen.

Confirm the parcel lies inside Marble Falls corporate limits before relying on City permit rules or tax guidance.
Require a valid City permit before operating or advertising the dwelling as a short-term rental.
Price the annual permit, pre-issuance and renewal inspections, $1 million insurance requirement, parking, safety work, lodging taxes, management, cleaning, maintenance, furnishings, utilities, and reserves.
Underwrite with property records and conservative assumptions rather than market-wide revenue, occupancy, nightly-rate, appreciation, or return claims.

Eligibility

Marble Falls Rental Eligibility

Verify the address, residential use, deed restrictions, proposed floor plan, parking, insurance, and responsible-party coverage before committing capital.

Use the City map or Development Services confirmation to establish that the property is within City jurisdiction.
Review zoning, building, fire, certificate-of-occupancy, and private-association constraints for the specific parcel and proposed use.
Prepare a plot plan showing guest parking and a floor plan identifying bedrooms, living areas, and emergency evacuation routes.
Confirm any property owners association rules separately because a City permit does not override private restrictions.

Permit sequence

Marble Falls STR Permit Sequence

Build the application around the City checklist, then allow for review, inspection, fee payment, and annual renewal before the unit is advertised.

Provide owner, operator or agent, and designated local responsible-party contact information.
Submit the parking plot plan, floor and evacuation plan, proof of at least $1 million per-occurrence insurance, association information when applicable, and proposed host rules.
After approval, pay the current permit fee. The City FAQ lists $175 and states that permits renew annually.
Complete the required health and safety inspection before initial issuance and each renewal, then post the permit, evacuation plan, and host rules as required.

Operating rules

Marble Falls Rental Operations

Operate within the permit capacity, parking plan, minimum stay, local-response, advertising, event, trash, and quiet-hour requirements.

Limit occupancy to two people per bedroom plus two additional people, with an absolute cap of 12 people including children.
Limit vehicles to lawful off-street spaces plus immediately fronting on-street spaces, prohibit unimproved-surface parking, and do not send guests to other residential street frontage.
Do not rent for less than 24 hours, and include the current City permit number in every advertisement.
Do not host a banquet, wedding, reception, reunion, bachelor or bachelorette party, concert, or similar gathering without any separately required special-event approval.
Keep amplified sound from crossing the property line between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m., and follow the City trash-placement schedule.

Safety and inspection

Marble Falls STR Safety Requirements

Treat the City inspection as a minimum condition and verify the dwelling, exits, alarms, extinguishers, utilities, insurance, and emergency information before each stay.

Maintain the approved floor and evacuation plan and keep required postings conspicuous for occupants.
Correct building, electrical, plumbing, fire, sanitation, or occupancy defects identified by the City before operating.
Keep the required liability insurance active and confirm the policy actually covers the intended short-term-rental use.
Reinspect safety equipment and emergency routes between stays instead of relying only on the annual City inspection.

Taxes and filings

Marble Falls Lodging Taxes and Filings

Register, collect, file, and remit every applicable lodging tax on the required schedule, including direct and marketplace bookings.

The City states that short-term rentals must collect and remit Marble Falls hotel occupancy tax; current City materials state a 7% rate.
The City reporting page lists quarterly due dates of April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31. Confirm the current form and instructions before each filing.
Texas imposes a separate 6% state hotel occupancy tax on qualifying lodging, including houses and apartments rented for less than 30 consecutive days.
Reconcile gross receipts, taxable and exempt stays, marketplace collections, direct bookings, returns, and payments rather than assuming a platform satisfies every filing duty.

Compliance

Marble Falls STR Enforcement and Revocation

Resolve complaints and permit defects quickly because citations, false application statements, and repeated violations can threaten continued eligibility.

Keep the local responsible party reachable in person or by phone whenever guests occupy the property and able to reach the premises within one hour when called by the City.
The ordinance allows misdemeanor penalties up to $2,000, with each day of a continuing violation treated separately.
More than two citations during the preceding 12 months, unmet permit conditions after notice, false application statements, or later disqualification can support revocation.
A revoked premises faces a one-year waiting period before another short-term-rental permit may be issued under the ordinance.

Underwriting

Marble Falls Property Underwriting

Model only approved capacity and documented property costs, then test downside cases without unsupported market averages.

Start with actual rent statements and reservation records when available, or conservative property-specific assumptions when they are not.
Deduct platform fees, lodging taxes not collected by the platform, utilities, cleaning, maintenance, supplies, insurance, management, annual permit and inspection costs, capital work, and reserves.
Do not price income above the permitted occupancy, lawful parking supply, or minimum rental period.
Stress-test lower booking volume, higher repair and insurance costs, delayed permit issuance, inspection corrections, tax exposure, and one-time capital work.
Treat financing, depreciation, appreciation, resale value, and income-tax effects as separate analyses with qualified professionals.

Local contacts

Marble Falls Short-Term Rental Contacts

Route permit, tax, complaint, emergency, and property-specific questions to the office responsible for each decision.

Permit qualifications, zoning, application status, and inspections: contact Marble Falls Development Services at 830-798-7095.
Hotel occupancy tax and general City STR questions: contact the Finance Department at 830-693-3615.
STR complaints: use strcomplaints@marblefallstx.gov or the complaint hotline listed by the City at 315-259-1360.
Emergencies: call 911. Confirm non-emergency reporting channels with the City for issues that do not require immediate response.
For acquisition underwriting and property-level decisions, Plan Your Marble Falls Property Strategy Call after official zoning, permit, tax, safety, and title findings are documented.

Official sources

Marble Falls Official Sources

Use current City and Texas materials before filing, operating, or underwriting because fees, forms, contacts, and procedures can change.

Confirm the current ordinance, application, fee, tax filing, inspection, and contact details with the responsible office before acting.

Marble Falls, Texas Airbnb Rules & Investment Guide (2026)

Marble Falls Short-Term Rental Review