City Watch
Short-term rental rules in South Padre Island, TX
How South Padre Island regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- Mandatory STR registration/license with the City required before advertising or renting
- Permit number must be listed in all ads
- Annual permit renewal (expires 1 year from initial registration)
- 24/7 local contact required within one-hour response
- Hotel Occupancy Tax collection/remittance to City, Cameron County, and State
- No cap/quota on permits found
- No zoning exclusion of whole-home STR from residential districts; ordinance defines STR to apply 'regardless of whether the dwelling was originally constructed or zoned as a residential dwelling'
- No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement
- No foreclosing minimum-stay (STR = under 30 consecutive days, i.e., no minimum imposed)
Based on: Code of Ordinances Ch. 11, Art. VII/XII (Short Term Rentals), §§11-223–11-299; Ord. No. 15-03 (2nd reading May 6, 2015
Summary of the rule
All property owners advertising or renting a residential unit for less than 30 consecutive days must register the short-term rental with the City (Convention Centre Department) and obtain a permit before advertising or renting, and comply with Hotel Occupancy Tax collection/remittance.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 15, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring South Padre Island · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.