raised Victorian beach cottage with gingerbread trim in Galveston, Texas

STR-legal

Short-term rental laws in Galveston, TX

Galveston allows short-term rentals citywide with registration and hotel-occupancy-tax collection and no night cap. The headwind here is Texas property tax, not legality.

Last updated 2026-05-10·Source: City of Galveston STR registration

The current rules

What Galveston actually requires

Galveston requires STR registration and hotel-occupancy-tax collection; there is no night cap.

Legality does not adjust revenue down — but Texas’ high effective property-tax rate materially raises PITIA and pressures DSCR.

Model the tax line carefully: a market that looks strong on revenue can still miss the DSCR floor on taxes alone.

Does it still pencil?

A $510,000 3BR at 25% down

1.36×cap-adjusted STR DSCR

Pencils — 9 STR lenders clear the floor at this ratio.

Run your Galveston address

FAQ

Galveston STR-law questions

Is short-term rental legal in Galveston?

Galveston allows short-term rentals citywide with registration and hotel-occupancy-tax collection and no night cap. The headwind here is Texas property tax, not legality. (Source: City of Galveston STR registration, as of 2026-05-10.) Always confirm current rules with the jurisdiction before purchasing.

How much does an Airbnb make in Galveston?

A typical 3-bedroom projects around $60,000/yr from 19 comparable listings within 1 mi, trailing 12 months (AirROI + Rabbu comps). Revenue scales with bedroom count and amenities; lenders verify via Form 1007 or operating statements.

Do Galveston lenders accept projected Airbnb income?

Yes — 9 STR-specialist lenders qualify on a market projection or a Form 1007, so you can buy before you have a rental history. Run the address to see which clear your DSCR.

Will the rules in Galveston change?

Likely — STR ordinances are moving city by city in 2026. This page was last checked 2026-05-10; we re-check on a monthly minimum and on ordinance events. Confirm the current rule with Galveston before closing.

Can I get a DSCR loan on an Airbnb with no rental history?

Yes. 9 of the 10 STR lenders we track qualify the loan on a market revenue projection (AirDNA/Rabbu) or an appraiser’s Form 1007 short-term-rent schedule, so no operating history is required for many programs.

What DSCR do STR lenders require?

Most set a floor around 1.0 on the cap-adjusted DSCR (revenue ÷ PITIA). Some offer no-ratio or sub-1.0 STR programs at a premium for thinner deals. The engine shows your ratio against each lender’s specific floor.

How current is this information?

Revenue and rate figures render from the data layer with an “as of” date; STR legality is re-checked on a monthly minimum and on ordinance events, because stale legality is worse than none. Every status shows when it was last checked and a source to verify.

Galveston feasibility All cities STR → MTR pivot

Legality: Short-term-rental rules change frequently and vary by city, county, and HOA. Legality shown reflects publicly available sources as of the date displayed; it is not legal advice or a permitting determination. Confirm current rules, permits, and HOA/condo restrictions with the local jurisdiction before purchasing.

Revenue: Projected revenue is an estimate from comparable listings and is not a forecast of your results. Lenders independently verify income, typically via appraisal (Form 1007/1008) or 12-month statements. This is not a loan decision or offer.

Run a Galveston address before you buy.

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