Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Freeport, TX?

Short-term rentals (STRs) are explicitly allowed in Freeport, Texas, but only with a valid, active permit issued by the city. Operating, leasing, advertising, or allowing an STR without a permit is unlawful. Freeport codified a comprehensive STR regulatory framework in Ordinance No. 2021-2640 (Chapter 124, “Short-Term Rental Facilities”), and the City Council subsequently approved amendments in 2023 that add or tighten certain requirements. Investors must obtain and maintain a city STR permit, comply with operational standards, and remit hotel occupancy taxes as required by state and local law. The rules are administered by the City Manager or designee (“Administrator”) and are actively enforced.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Freeport

1. Confirm zoning and land-use eligibility

• Check Chapter 155 (Zoning Code) for “Short-Term Rental” and “Specific Use” definitions and any district-specific approvals. The base ordinance defines STR; any district-specific allowances or specific-use permit requirements were tightened by the 2023 amendments.
• If your property is in a homeowners association, obtain HOA approval and review any applicable covenants.

2. Prepare the property and legal structure

• Ensure the dwelling meets minimum health and safety standards; a city inspection is required before permit issuance.
• Carry host protection/liability insurance with at least $1,000,000 per occurrence; maintain continuous coverage and provide proof of insurance with your application and upon renewal.
• Designate a local responsible party who resides in Brazoria County, is available 24/7/365, can be reached by phone, and can respond on-site within one hour of city call. This person must be authorized to make decisions about the premises and accept service of citations on the owner’s behalf.

3. Submit a complete short-term rental permit application

• File the application with the Administrator (City Manager or designated department) and include all required documents (see list below).
• Pay the permit application fee (established by city council resolution).
• Post the approved permit inside the front entrance of the rental and include the assigned permit number in all advertising.

4. Complete the required city inspection

• After application review, the city will inspect the premises. If the inspection fails, a re-inspection fee may apply for each subsequent inspection.

5. Comply with ongoing obligations

• Remit Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) as required by state and local law; provide occupancy history upon Administrator request.
• Display host rules inside the unit; prohibit special events; adhere to occupancy, parking, trash, and sound restrictions.
• Renew your permit annually before it expires (permits expire the last day of the month one year after issuance).

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Permit application package (initial and renewal)

• Owner information: name, address, contact information, and authenticated signature.
• Operator/agent and designated local responsible party: name, address, and contact information.
• Plot plan showing the location of parking spaces to be used with the STR.
• Dimensioned floor plan identifying bedrooms, other living spaces, and emergency evacuation routes.
• Proof of insurance: host protection or other liability insurance with coverage up to $1,000,000 per occurrence; proof required at application and upon renewal; notice of cancellation must be provided within 30 days.
• Property owner’s association details (if applicable) and a copy of proposed host rules.
• Permit application fee and any additional information deemed necessary by the Administrator to ensure compliance.
• Renewal applications may be submitted 30 days prior to expiration; if submitted less than 30 days before expiration, the Administrator may grant a one-time extension not exceeding 10 days. Renewals require updated information and a signed statement confirming accuracy; late renewals after expiration are treated as new applications.

Posting and advertising requirements

• Display the approved rental permit conspicuously inside the front entrance.
• Include the current STR permit number in all advertisements (online platforms, brochures, newspapers, magazines, etc.).
• Provide host rules to occupants inside the unit; rules must be in a form developed by the Administrator and cover occupancy, parking, trash pickup, sound limits, and the prohibition on special events.

Operational documentation to keep on-site

• Evidence of the current permit (posted).
• Contact information for the local responsible party and any property manager or operator.
• Insurance documentation.
• Emergency evacuation plan reflected in the submitted floor plan.

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals in Freeport (City and State Context)

City of Freeport – Chapter 124 (Ordinance No. 2021-2640) and 2023 amendments

• Permit requirement: No STR may be operated, advertised, or allowed without a valid, active city STR permit. Permits are non-transferable and expire on the last day of the month one year after issuance.
• Application and renewal: Submit a complete application with required documents and fees; renew annually. The Administrator may place reasonable conditions on permits and renewals to ensure compliance.
• Local responsible party: Required. Must reside in Brazoria County, be reachable 24/7/365, respond on-site within one hour, and be authorized to make decisions and accept service of citations.
• Insurance: Host protection/other liability insurance with at least $1,000,000 per occurrence; proof required with application and upon cancellation.
• Inspection: Mandatory; premises must pass a city inspection prior to approval. Re-inspection fees may apply for failures.
• Occupancy limits:
  • No more than two (2) persons per bedroom plus two (2) additional persons.
  • Maximum of twelve (12) occupants at any time, regardless of bedrooms.
  • Visual inspection by a city employee of more than 12 persons is prima facie evidence of a violation.
• Minimum stay: Rentals for less than 24 hours are prohibited.
• Sound equipment: Sound audible beyond the property line between 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. is prohibited.
• Trash: No placement of trash on the premises before 7:00 p.m. the evening prior to scheduled pickup or on non-pickup days.
• Special events: Advertising, promoting, or allowing special events (e.g., banquets, weddings, receptions, reunions, concerts, bachelor/bachelorette parties) is prohibited.
• Physical conversions: Converting a garage to living space or modifying/adding bedrooms for STR use is prohibited. Paving or covering pervious soil for additional on-site parking requires prior city approval.
• Hosting platforms: Platforms must provide notice to owners that city law prohibits STRs without an active permit. Nothing in the chapter relieves owners, occupants, or platforms of obligations under state law or the city code, including tax obligations.
• Permit display: The permit must be posted at a conspicuous location inside the front entrance.
• Advertising with permit number: All advertisements must include the current permit number.
• Nontransferability: Permits cannot be assigned or transferred to another person, entity, address, or unit.
• Revocation and enforcement: Permits may be revoked if the holder receives more than two citations for violations within 12 months, fails to comply with permit conditions, or knowingly makes false statements. After revocation, no permit may be issued for the same premises for one year. Appeal processes to the Administrator and City Council are provided by the ordinance.
• Penalties: Violations are misdemeanors. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense. If no culpable mental state is prescribed, one is not required; such offenses are punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. If a culpable mental state is prescribed or the offense governs safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation (including dumping of refuse), the offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.
• Discontinuance: Owners unable to obtain or maintain a permit must discontinue the STR use within six months following the ordinance’s effective date (and within any period specified by the Administrator for renewals or other scenarios).
• Hotel occupancy taxes: Owners must pay HOT under state and local law. Upon request, owners must remit an accounting of occupants and taxes paid within 30 days.

2023 City Council amendments (news report context)

• Density cap: Limiting the number of STRs in an area to one every 200 feet.
• Specific-use permits: Requiring specific-use permits for STR use (in addition to the city STR permit).
• Street parking: Prohibiting street parking for STR guests.
• Posting: Requiring the license and host rules to be posted outside the front door (in addition to inside the unit as required by Chapter 124).

Brazoria County and State of Texas (no county-specific STR rules identified in the provided materials)

• Hotel Occupancy Tax (Texas): Texas imposes a state HOT of 6% on the price of hotel rooms, including many short-term rentals. Local HOT may also apply depending on jurisdiction. STR operators must register, collect, and remit applicable taxes to the Texas Comptroller and to any applicable local tax authorities.
• Registration and collection: Businesses must register for HOT through the Texas Comptroller and file reports per the applicable cadence (monthly, quarterly, or annual) depending on tax liability. Platforms and operators should maintain records to support filings.
• Public health and safety: State fire, building, and health codes continue to apply. Owners should follow the International Residential Code standards reflected in the city’s “bedroom” definition and ensure safe egress.
• Advertising compliance: Platforms must display the statutory notice that STRs require a valid local permit (as codified in Freeport’s Chapter 124).

Note on county information: If Brazoria County has additional short-term rental ordinances or enforcement programs, they were not provided in the materials. Investors should confirm county requirements separately if any are later adopted.

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

• City of Freeport – Short-Term Rental Administrator
  • Role: City Manager or designated department responsible for administering Chapter 124 and enforcing STR regulations.
  • Mailing Address: 200 W. 2nd St., Freeport, TX 77541
  • Phone: 979-233-1826
  • Website: www.freeporttx.us
  • Office for permits and correspondence: City Secretary’s Office; most administrative filings and posting requirements are routed through the City Secretary and City Manager’s office.
  • Note: For questions about specific-use permits or zoning approvals under Chapter 155, contact the City’s Planning and Zoning department or the City Secretary’s Office for routing.

Links to Source Pages

• Freeport Code of Ordinances (Municode): library.municode.com/tx/freeport/ordinances/code_of_ordinances
• Freeport Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances – definition of Short-Term Rental (§155.201(S)): online.encodeplus.com/regs/freeport-tx/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=436
• City of Freeport – Official Website (contact and permits): www.freeporttx.us
• Ordinance No. 2021-2640 establishing Chapter 124 STR regulations (PDF): mcclibraryfunctions.azurewebsites.us/api/ordinanceDownload/10806/1119106/pdf
• News article summarizing 2023 amendments to the STR ordinance: thefacts.com/news/freeport-city-council-approves-amendments-to-short-term-rental-ordinance/article_001e5cb4-0533-5f23-88aa-9021f2430f5f.html

Additional compliance guidance

• Tax registrations and filings: Register and file Hotel Occupancy Tax through the Texas Comptroller at comptroller.texas.gov
• Insurance: Maintain host protection/liability coverage at or above $1,000,000 per occurrence; notify the city of any cancellation within 30 days.
• Inspections and renewals: Plan inspections early and file renewals at least 30 days before expiration to avoid gaps in authorization or requiring re-application.

This guide reflects the current Freeport STR regulatory framework and 2023 amendments as reported. Because permit fees, specific-use permit procedures, and some administrative details are set by resolution or additional ordinance updates, investors should verify the latest fee schedules and specific-use permit requirements with the City Secretary’s Office or City Manager’s office before applying.