A federal court has upheld New Braunfels' restrictions on short-term rentals. Now property owners are seeking Supreme Court review, raising questions about property rights, local government authority, and the future of STR regulation. For years, Texas cities have struggled with how to regulate short-term rentals (STRs). Some have adopted permitting systems, occupancy limits, and density restrictions. Others have prohibited STRs in certain residential neighborhoods altogether.

Vrbo is making a significant change to its host fee structure beginning October 29, 2026, announcing a new 12% host commission. At first glance, the change seems relatively straightforward. Many hosts currently using Vrbo’s pay-per-booking model pay a 5% commission plus a 3% payment-processing fee, for a total host cost of approximately 8%. A move to 12% therefore represents a significant increase, but there are still questions about exactly where Vrbo’s fee structure is head

San Antonio’s new Short Term Rental permit fees take effect October 1, 2026. The three-year fees will be: Type 1, owner-occupied: $450 Type 2, non-owner-occupied: $1,000 As STR permits are valid for three years, not every host will encounter the new fee immediately. Existing permit holders will pay the new rate when their permits come up for renewal. For some hosts, the increase will be particularly significant. A Type 2 operator who last renewed in 2023 paid $100 for a three

If you operate a short-term rental in San Antonio, you already know that hosting is anything but a one-person business. Behind every successful property is a network of people who help make it work: cleaners, landscapers, handymen, pest-control companies, photographers, property managers, co-hosts, real estate professionals, and specialized service providers. Then there are the local businesses hosts introduce to their guests every day, including restaurants, chefs, artists,

For years, short-term rentals and affordable housing have often been placed on opposite sides of the same debate. Housing advocates worry that STRs remove homes from the long-term market. Hosts point to the relatively small percentage of housing represented by STRs and argue that a much larger housing shortage cannot reasonably be blamed on Airbnb. Last week, we were invited to attend the launch of Airbnb’s new Housing Accelerator at the Austin Central Library. What we heard

San Antonio City Council adopted the FY2027 budget on September 17, including significant increases in Short Term Rental permit fees. The new fees take effect October 1, 2026. The three-year STR permit fees will increase to: Type 1, owner-occupied: $450 Current fee: $300 Increase: 50% Type 2, non-owner-occupied: $1,000 Current fee: $450 Increase: 122% The new fees will be reflected in BuildSA beginning October 1. Why the fees increased The City developed the new STR fees usin

San Antonio short-term rental operators are facing a significant increase in permit fees under the City's proposed FY 2027 budget. The proposed fee for a Type 1 STR permit would increase from $300 to $450, a 50% increase. The Type 2 fee would jump from $450 to $1,000, an increase of 122%. Those percentage increases understandably get attention. But how do the proposed fees actually compare with what short-term rental operators pay elsewhere in Texas? We decided to take a look

Recently, a guest left a private note after her stay that has stayed with me. "After 10+ years of being a host, I see why you're consistently given 5+ stars. You make traveling so easy when you enter a space like the one you've curated." That sentence made me stop and think. Not because of the compliment, but because it perfectly described what every great host should strive for. Making travel easy. Many hosts focus on amenities. Bigger televisions. More kitchen gadgets. Luxu

On August 4, the Leon Valley City Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2026-17, adopting several significant changes to the city's short-term rental regulations. The amendments expand the separation requirement for new STR permits, establish a square-footage-based occupancy standard, make STR permits nontransferable, and strengthen requirements related to trash originating from STR properties. Council also took an important step for current operators: existing STRs were

Texas short-term rental operators may be seeing a new tax-related cost associated with the online platforms they use to market and book their properties: Texas state and local sales tax on certain services provided by online travel agencies (OTAs) and other marketplace platforms. This is not a new hotel occupancy tax, nor is it a tax on the nightly rental rate. It is sales tax on taxable services that platforms provide to hosts and other users of their marketplaces. Thanks to

This is part 2 of our analysis of Airbnb's Q2 earnings announcement. Airbnb had a very good second quarter. Nights and Seats Booked increased 10% year over year, growth accelerated in mature markets including the United States, and second-quarter revenue reached $3.6 billion, up 17%. There is good news for hosts in those numbers. But Airbnb's latest results also illustrate an important distinction for anyone running a short-term rental: What's good for Airbnb's marketplace is

When was the last time you checked the contact information in your City of San Antonio short-term rental permit? It may seem like a small detail, but keeping your records current in BuildSA can save you from missed notices, compliance problems, and unnecessary headaches. The City relies on the information in your BuildSA account to contact you about important matters, including: Permit renewals Code compliance issues Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) questions or refunds Your require

Most San Antonio short-term rental operators will never encounter a compliance agreement. But many hosts have asked what they are, when they're used, and what they mean for permit holders. To better understand the process, I recently met with Savita Rai, Assistant City Attorney, who works with the City's Development Services Department (DSD) on short-term rental compliance cases. The first thing to know is that compliance agreements are not used for routine complaints or isol

IMPORTANT: This information reflects what STRASA knows as of August 17, 2026. The is still under review, and we are continuing to seek clarification from City staff about how the proposed STR fees were calculated. This information may change as we learn more. STRASA will provide updates as additional details become available. San Antonio short-term rental operators need to pay attention to the City’s FY 2027 budget process. On Thursday, Aug. 13, City Manager Erik Walsh presen

Airbnb just reported one of its strongest first halves in years. Bookings are growing, the U.S. market is accelerating, and the company is releasing new products and features at a much faster pace. Behind much of that change is artificial intelligence. CEO Brian Chesky is pushing Airbnb to become what he calls an “AI-native” company. Airbnb says AI and changes in how its teams work have reduced the time required to take some initiatives from concept to delivery by as much as

EnviroBin Solutions is a locally owned, veteran- and educator-owned business built on a simple promise: reliable, high-quality service that elevates San Antonio properties. As a proud Friends of STRASA Business Member, EnviroBin Solutions would like to introduce the team working behind the scenes to support local hosts. Driven by Service, Built on Trust The business reflects the shared values of its co-owners, Noé Ferrel and Petra Garza. Noé Ferrel (Co-Owner): Following a 20-

When a noise complaint, unauthorized party, or disturbance occurs at a short-term rental, what happens next? For many hosts, the answer is simple: call the guest, send a message through Airbnb or Vrbo, and hope the situation is resolved quickly. But what if it isn't? A recently adopted ordinance in Galveston is bringing that question into sharper focus. The city now requires short-term rental operators to maintain a local contact who can respond to complaints within a specifi

Each May, Airbnb unveils its Summer Release—a collection of new features that signals where the company is headed. For hosts, it's worth paying attention. Much like Apple's annual product announcements, Airbnb's Summer Release provides a glimpse into the company's long-term strategy. This year's announcements continue a trend that's been building for several years: Airbnb is becoming much more than a place to book a short-term rental. The platform now includes homes, hotels,

Install an in room safe to protect your guests.

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