The City of Houston states on its short-term rental page that on January 1, 2027, it will begin notifying platforms to remove listings that lack a certificate of registration. KPRC 2 repeated the date in its reporting on October 24, 2026. According to KPRC’s 2025 coverage of the ordinance, platforms must take a non-compliant listing down within 10 days of the city’s notice.
What the rules ask for
The ordinance took effect on January 1, 2026, KPRC reported, and ABC13 described April 2, 2026, as the first enforcement date. According to the city, you need to provide:
- Your details and a copy of your ID, the property address and an emergency contact
- The names and links of every platform where the rental is listed
- Proof of Hotel Occupancy Tax remittance or registration, unless the property is listed only on Airbnb
- An owner authorization form or a current, valid lease
- Completion of a human trafficking prevention course
The fee is $275 a year, according to KPRC and ABC13. KPRC reports fines of $100 to $500 per day for operating without a certificate. The city also warns of a trap: if you applied but have not received the approval email and certificate, your property counts as non-compliant.
Where things stand
In March, ABC13 reported nearly 4,000 registered rentals in the city’s database and about 1,100 pending applications, and Councilman Julian Ramirez estimated that 83% of the city’s short-term rentals had complied. We found no newer official count.
A case in October shows the limits of registration. KPRC reports that a shooting at a party killed a 23-year-old man at a rental registered with the city, where more than 50 people had reportedly gathered. Houston bans advertising rentals as party spaces, but KPRC notes it is unclear how the city will make sure registered rentals keep to occupancy and other rules.
What does this mean for you?
If you host in Houston, don’t wait for December. Check that you actually hold the certificate, not just a submitted application, answer any city requests quickly and give your registration number to every platform where you advertise. The online application cannot be saved and must be finished within one hour, so have your documents ready before you start.
Also check your listing text and your maximum occupancy, and set clear rules against parties. Have a local attorney or tax professional check the details, including your Hotel Occupancy Tax setup.
Sources
- City of Houston: Business Licensing – Short Term Rentals
- KPRC 2: Deadly shooting at Houston party rental raises questions about city oversight (October 24, 2026)
- ABC13: Short-term rental owners reach deadline, now required to register with the City of Houston (March 31, 2026)
- KPRC 2: Houston’s new short-term rental ordinance: What businesses need to know (May 6, 2025)
