Martindale, Texas
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Martindale, TX
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Local STR Agent
Local STR Agent
STR Regulations for Martindale, Texas
Note: This guide is based on the content you provided. Some city documents are referenced but not included here, so we cannot reproduce the full text of the ordinance or the specific submission requirements. For exact permit conditions and fees, consult the linked PDFs and contact the city directly.
Overview
- Are STRs allowed in Martindale, TX? Yes. The city has a Short-Term Rental Registration program and provides a Short-Term Rental Ordinance, a registration process, and a neighbor notification form. Martindale allows STRs subject to registration and ongoing compliance with the ordinance.
- Related requirements exist at the state level. Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) typically applies to STRs and must be collected and remitted. Platforms like Airbnb/Vrbo generally collect and remit this tax for bookings made through their sites, but property owners operating outside such platforms remain responsible for collection and remittance.
Sources: Martindale Permits page [Link], [VRBO listing page showing active STRs in Martindale] (www.vrbo.com/en-ca/vacation-rentals/united-states/texas/caldwell-county/martindale).
What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Martindale?
Martindale hosts earn a median $29,454/year with $385 ADR and 29% occupancy.
Top performers pull in $57,306+ per year.
See the full Martindale market breakdown →How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Martindale
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Confirm Zoning and Property Eligibility
- Determine whether your property is located within Martindale city limits.
- Check that the property’s zoning permits transient lodging (e.g., no deed restrictions prohibiting rentals). If it is a residential zone, ensure the STR use is allowed.
- Verify setbacks, lot size, and other development standards. The city provides zoning documents (e.g., Lot Size–Area, R-1 Setbacks) on the same permits page [Link].
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Obtain Necessary Permits
- Short-Term Rental Registration is mandatory. The city offers a specific registration process and provides an ordinance and neighbor notification materials [Link].
- Building Permits may be required for alterations, new construction, or additions. The city lists Residential Building Permits and related procedures [Link].
- Certificate of Appropriateness: Properties within the Martindale Historic Landmark District must obtain a certificate before any exterior changes [Link].
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Neighbor Notification
- Martindale requires STR owners to notify neighbors prior to operating. Use the city’s Short-Term Rental Neighbor Notification document [Link].
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Tax Registration and Compliance (State Level)
- Register for and begin collecting Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) if you collect payments directly (outside of tax-remitting platforms).
- File HOT returns and remit collected taxes to the Texas Comptroller according to the reporting schedule (often monthly or quarterly, depending on volume). If you operate entirely through platforms that remit Texas HOT on your behalf, you generally do not need a separate state HOT account.
- For detailed state-level requirements, consult the Texas Comptroller or a tax professional familiar with Texas hospitality tax rules.
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Ongoing Compliance
- Follow safety, occupancy, quiet hours, parking, and signage rules as specified in the city’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance [Link].
- Maintain records of registrations, permits, and any inspection or compliance communications.
- Monitor county-level requirements. The content provided does not include Caldwell County-specific STR regulations; if none exist, operate under Martindale municipal and Texas state requirements.
Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines
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City of Martindale
- Short-Term Rental Registration form [Link]
- Short-Term Rental Ordinance [Link]
- Short-Term Rental Neighbor Notification form [Link]
- Residential Building Permit and Submittal Requirements (if applicable) [Link]
- Certificate of Appropriateness (required if in the Historic Landmark District) [Link]
- Zoning/development standards (e.g., Lot Size–Area, R-1 Setbacks) [Link]
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State of Texas
- Hotel Occupancy Tax registration and filings (if you collect payments directly)
- Business records documenting room nights, gross receipts, and tax remittances
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Other Helpful City Forms
- Permit Requirement Determination Form [Link]
- Contractor Form [Link]
- Complaint Form [Link]
- Utility Services Application and Notice [Link]
Note: The city’s PDFs contain the detailed requirements, submission procedures, and any fees. Because those documents were not included here, exact conditions (e.g., maximum occupancy, length of stay, safety equipment, inspection schedule) should be verified directly in the ordinance and registration guidance.
Specific Regulations (Martindale, Caldwell County, and Texas)
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Martindale (City)
- Short-Term Rentals are allowed subject to registration, neighbor notification, and compliance with the Short-Term Rental Ordinance [Link].
- Properties in the Historic Landmark District require a Certificate of Appropriateness prior to exterior changes [Link].
- Additional zoning standards (setbacks, lot size) apply to development and may affect STR properties [Link].
- Building permits may be required for construction or remodeling related to STR use [Link].
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Caldwell County
- The provided materials do not include county-specific STR regulations. If the property is inside Martindale city limits, the city ordinance typically governs. For properties outside city limits but still in the county, verify any county rules directly with Caldwell County officials.
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Texas (State)
- Hotel Occupancy Tax commonly applies to STRs; owners who collect payments directly must register and remit HOT. Platforms frequently handle tax collection/remittance for bookings made on their sites.
Contact Information (Local Authority for STRs)
- City of Martindale – Building & Planning Department
- Physical Address: 409 Main Street, Martindale, TX 78655
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 365, Martindale, TX 78655
- Phone: 512-357-2639
- Fax: 512-357-5826
- Permits/STR Information Page [Link]
Contact the department to confirm:
- Current registration requirements and fees
- Ordinance updates and effective dates
- Any additional permits or inspections needed for your specific property
Links to Source Pages (Important)
- City of Martindale – Permits (includes STR and related documents):
- Martindale Short-Term Rental Ordinance (PDF):
- Short-Term Rental Registration (PDF):
- Short-Term Rental Neighbor Notification (PDF):
- Certificate of Appropriateness (PDF):
- Residential Building Permit (PDF):
- Residential Permit Submittal Requirements (PDF):
- Residential Plan Review and Permitting Procedures (PDF):
- Lot Size–Area (PDF):
- R-1 Setbacks (PDF):
- Utility Services Application and Notice (PDF):
- Complaint Form (PDF):
- VRBO – Martindale, TX Vacation Rentals:
Practical Next Steps
- Review the STR Ordinance and Registration forms to understand exact conditions and fees.
- Complete the neighbor notification requirement prior to listing.
- Verify zoning compliance and whether a Certificate of Appropriateness is needed.
- If performing renovations, submit Residential Building Permit materials and follow plan review procedures.
- Confirm Texas HOT obligations; if you collect payments directly, register with the Texas Comptroller and set up tax remittance procedures.
- Maintain a compliance folder for registrations, permits, correspondence, and tax records.
Next step
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Martindale
Market Saturation Score
Photos of Martindale
Overview of Martindale
Martindale is a city in Caldwell County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Austin metropolitan area. The population was 1,253 at the 2020 census. The city hosts an egg hunt each Easter. Every Fourth of July, the town holds an Independence Parade leading to a town picnic at the oak-shaded river bottom. In recent years, Martindale has also attracted a surprising number of film scouts that have been attracted to the town's turn-of-the-century charm. As a result, various television shows, music videos and movies have been filmed in town most notably: A Perfect World, starring Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner; The Newton Boys, starring Matthew McConaughey and Ethan Hawke; and New Line's 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Over the years, each subsequent film crew has left its mark on the town. A strand of wood beams sits on a vacant lot next to the bank—all that remains of a saloon that was constructed for one of the westerns. In 2004, Carlton Carl, a Washington D.C. lobbyist, purchased 36,000 square feet (3,300 m2) of commercial property in downtown Martindale. A partial inventory of Carl's purchase includes three empty general stores, a former bank, a cotton-seed weigh station, several warehouses, a movie-set courtroom, an aquarium filled with cotton plants, a seed elevator, 16 seed silos and 300 feet (91 m) of frontage on the San Marcos River. Carl has been working closely with the residents of Martindale to plan the next phase of the town's rejuvenation.
In Fall 2007, Carl worked with students at Texas State University of San Marcos in the Interior Design program, under the guidance of Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator Nancy Granato, to receive help envisioning further planning of the town. The project entailed assigning each group of students a specific building (i.e. silos, weigh station, etc.) to redesign the interior of and to think of a possible business that would work well with the space. One group worked on the landscape plan of the town in relation to planting native species of trees and plants, creating a city park, putting in new sidewalks and outdoor lighting. The ideas were then presented to Carl as well as some of the residents and leaders of the town. Students in the MBA program, under the guidance of Associate Professor Bob Hill, also presented Carl with a market analysis for the town of Martindale, TX. The presentation included an examination of the business district and potential economic opportunities; analysis of economic trends and activities to drive growth; and the identification new retail and restaurant opportunities.
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