Executive Overview: Are STRs Allowed in Brenham, TX?

Yes—short-term rentals are allowed in Brenham, Washington County. Brenham does not have a city-specific permitting or zoning system for STRs as of this writing. The principal compliance obligation is the collection and remittance of local Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). The City of Brenham requires a 7% HOT on stays of 30 days or fewer, payable monthly via a paperless online portal. If your STR is located outside the City of Brenham but within Washington County, the County also levies a 7% HOT—collected quarterly using the same online payment platform. State HOT does apply and is typically collected by platforms like Airbnb for most hosts, but local HOT must still be remitted by the operator regardless of platform handling.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Brenham

• Confirm your property’s location: City of Brenham (monthly HOT reporting) vs. Washington County unincorporated areas (quarterly HOT reporting).
• Obtain your State of Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax account (if you do not already have one). Platforms such as Airbnb generally collect and remit the 6% state HOT on behalf of hosts; however, you remain responsible for local 7% Brenham/Washington County HOT and for filing returns.
• Contact the City of Brenham’s Tourism & Marketing department to receive your account number and setup instructions for the MUNIRevs/GovOS portal.
• Set up your monthly (city) and quarterly (county) reporting routine in MUNIRevs; you will report gross occupancy income (room rate only) and remit 7% local HOT accordingly.
• Establish internal processes to:
  • Collect local HOT from guests as a pass-through charge (separate line item).
  • File a return each due period—even if occupancy is zero.
  • Retain basic records in case of audit (the City retains audit rights).
• Verify any deed restrictions, homeowner association (HOA), or condominium association rules that may limit STR operations.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

• State-level
  • Texas HOT account with the Comptroller (commonly managed automatically by major platforms; verify your status).
• City of Brenham (inside city limits)
  • City HOT account number (provided by Brenham Tourism & Marketing after enrollment).
  • Access to the City’s MUNIRevs/GovOS portal for reporting and payment.
  • Monthly HOT return filing and payment. Taxes apply only to stays of 30 days or fewer. Fees (e.g., cleaning, pet, booking) are excluded from the HOT base.
• Washington County (outside city limits)
  • Enrollment for the County’s MUNIRevs/GovOS portal and HOT reporting.
  • Quarterly HOT return filing and payment. If located in the County, the City of Brenham does not collect HOT; the County handles collections for areas outside City limits.
• Other local considerations
  • Confirm compliance with any HOA/condo bylaws and residential rental regulations that may apply.

Specific Regulations: Brenham, Washington County (TX), and State

• Brenham City HOT (inside city limits)
  • Tax rate: 7% of the room rate (guest-paid, operator-collected pass-through).
  • Tax base: Room rate only. Booking fees, cleaning fees, pet fees, and similar charges are excluded.
  • Applicability: Stays of 30 days or fewer. Stays longer than 30 days are not subject to HOT.
  • Filing frequency: Monthly.
  • Due date: Last calendar day of the month following collection (e.g., November collections due December 31).
  • Filing requirement: Must file even if no guests; report zero when applicable.
  • Enforcement: Section 24-26 of the Brenham Code of Ordinances makes failure to collect and remit HOT a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500; penalties and interest apply for late payments.
  • Reporting/payment: City uses MUNIRevs/GovOS paperless portal. Credit cards are not accepted; payments via checking or savings accounts only.
  • Platforms and local tax: Major platforms collect Texas state HOT for many hosts, but do not remit Brenham HOT. The City states it has not received any local HOT payments from short-term rental platforms and expects operators to remit directly.
• Washington County HOT (outside city limits)
  • Tax rate: 7%.
  • Collection: Quarterly via MUNIRevs/GovOS. County handles HOT for properties outside City limits.
  • Registration/promotion: The County notes that compliant short-term rentals are registered with the Chamber of Commerce and the State of Texas to promote these properties.
• Texas State HOT
  • Texas Tax Code Chapter 351 allows municipalities to impose HOT up to 9%.
  • State HOT rate is 6% and is generally collected by platforms for most hosts; operators remain responsible for ensuring state remittance (unless the platform notifies otherwise).

Local Authority Contacts for STR/HOT

• City of Brenham (Tourism & Marketing—HOT administration)
  • Contact: Nancy Joiner
  • Phone: 979-337-7586
  • Email: njoiner@cityofbrenham.org
  • Mailing address: 200 W. Vulcan, Brenham, TX 77833
  • HOT contact info page: cityofbrenham.online/HOT-contact
  • HOT portal (pay/report): brenham-wacounty.munirevs.com
• Washington County (County HOT outside City limits)
  • Contact: Catherine Moore
  • Phone: 979-277-6224
  • Email: cmoore@washingtoncountytx.gov
  • Address: Washington County Courthouse, 100 E Main Street, Brenham, TX 77833
  • HOT report form (County): /upload/page/11728/Hotel Occupancy Tax Report Form.pdf
  • County HOT information page: www.co.washington.tx.us/page/washington.HotelOccupancyTaxInfo
  • County HOT portal (pay/report): brenham-wacounty.munirevs.com

Source Links (for verification and follow-up)

• City of Brenham—Hotel Occupancy Tax page: www.cityofbrenham.org/city_government/departments/tourism_and_marketing/hotel_occupancy_tax.php
• Brenham Code of Ordinances—HOT chapter (viewable via City page links): ecode360.com/39309889
• City of Brenham—MUNIRevs/GovOS HOT portal: brenham-wacounty.munirevs.com
• City of Brenham—HOT contact information: cityofbrenham.online/HOT-contact
• Washington County—Hotel Occupancy Tax information: www.co.washington.tx.us/page/washington.HotelOccupancyTaxInfo
• Texas Hotel & Lodging Association—STR overview (2018): texaslodging.com/short-term-rental-str-update-2018/
• Texas Comptroller—Hotel Occupancy Tax resources: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/hotel/
• STRProfitMap—Texas STR regulations context: www.strprofitmap.com/regulations/TX

Operational Checklist (Monthly/Quarterly)

• Confirm property jurisdiction (City vs. County).
• Track gross occupancy income (room rate only) for each reporting period.
• Collect 7% local HOT from guests as a pass-through (do not net it from your revenue).
• File the appropriate return and remit local HOT by the due date:
  • City of Brenham: Monthly by the last calendar day of the month following collection.
  • Washington County: Quarterly; follow County’s instructions and portal calendar.
• If no guests, file a return with zero occupancy.
• Maintain records sufficient for potential audits; the City retains audit rights.

Note: Always verify current rules with the City/County contacts prior to launch or material changes in operation. If your property is subject to HOA or condo restrictions, obtain written approvals before listing.