Types of STRs in Austin
Type 1 (Owner-Occupied)
- Must be owner-occupied or tied to owner’s primary residence.
- Can rent whole unit OR a partial unit (bedroom + shared bath) IF owner is present.
- Only 1 party at a time if partial unit is rented.
- Allowed in most residential areas.
Type 2 (Non-Owner Occupied Single-Family)
- Entire home rental, NOT owner-occupied.
- Cannot be in multifamily properties.
- Subject to 3% cap per census tract.
- Must have been licensed before Nov 23, 2015 (no new licenses after).
- Distance rule: not within 1,000 ft of another Type 2 unless grandfathered.
Type 3 (Multifamily: Apartments/Condos)
- Entire unit rental in multifamily buildings.
Density caps:
- Non-commercial zones: max 3% of units per property/building.
- Commercial zones: max 25% of units per property/building.
License Requirements (§25-2-791)
- Annual license required (non-transferable).
- Must show insurance, proof of hotel occupancy taxes (If renewing), local contact info, and no violations.
- Expires after 1 year, renewable if compliant.
- No new Type 2 licenses issued after Nov 2015.
Occupancy & Noise (§25-2-794–795)
- Max occupancy: 2 adults per bedroom + 2 extra, capped at 10 adults OR 6 unrelated adults.
- Outside assemblies > 6 adults not allowed (7am–10pm).
- No parties/events 10pm–7am.
- Noise limits:
- Day (10am–10pm): 75 dB max at property line.
- Night (10pm–10am): no sound beyond property line.
Notification & Neighbors (§25-2-792, §25-2-796)
- Renters must get an info packet (rules, trash, parking, noise, etc.).
- Local contact required (must respond to emergencies within 2 hours).
- Neighbors within 100 ft must be notified.
Enforcement & Penalties (§25-2-797–799)
- Repeat violations (2+ in 12 months) → license denied for 1 year.
- Non-compliance fees if caught operating unlicensed.
- Advertising without license = violation.
- City inspectors can issue citations based on visual inspection of too many guests.