Plainview, Texas Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: STR Status in Plainview, TX

Short-term rentals ARE ALLOWED in Plainview, Texas but require compliance with a municipal permit program and tax obligations that took effect January 1, 2025. The City of Plainview has implemented a formal STR regulatory framework through Ordinance No. 24-3773, which defines short-term rentals as residential dwelling units (or portions thereof) rented for compensation for less than 30 consecutive days.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Plainview?

Plainview hosts earn a median $16,764/year with $118 ADR and 62% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $29,424+ per year.

See the full Plainview market breakdown

Starting a Short-Term Rental Business in Plainview

Step 1: Initial Assessment

Verify your property is located in an appropriately zoned area (residential zones are suitable; industrial zones may not qualify)
Confirm no deed restrictions, leases, covenants, or other property-specific bans prohibit STR operations
Assess market demand in your specific neighborhood

Step 2: Permit Application Process

Contact the Building Permits & Inspections Department at (806) 296-1100 to initiate your application
Submit completed application with required documentation (see permits section below)
Pay the annual non-refundable $100 application fee
Await approval (permits cannot be transferred and don't convey with property sales)

Step 3: Tax Registration and Setup

Register for Hotel Occupancy Tax collection
Set up systems to collect both state (6%) and local (7%) taxes
File initial tax registration with appropriate authorities
Establish reporting cadence (monthly if collecting $500+/month, quarterly if under)

Required Documents, Permits, and Licenses

Municipal Permit Requirements

Short-Term Rental Permit (Annual)

Cost: $100 (non-refundable)
Duration: One year, renewable annually
Transferability: Non-transferable; does not convey with property sales
Application Required Information:
- List of all owners, operators, and agents with current:
  - Names
  - Mailing addresses
  - Email addresses
  - Telephone numbers
- 24-hour local contact information (must be owner, operator, or designated agent)
- Acknowledgment that permit doesn't supersede property restrictions
- Any additional documentation required by Building Official

Tax Registrations

Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax Registration

Rate: 6% of gross rental receipts
Applies when nightly rates exceed $15
Register through Texas Comptroller's Office

Plainview City Hotel Occupancy Tax Registration

Rate: 7% of gross rental receipts
Applies when nightly rates exceed $2
Use city's Room Occupancy Tax Report form
File with Plainview Accounting Department

Plainview-Specific STR Regulations

Operational Requirements

Minimum Stay: None specified, but STR definition excludes rentals ≥30 consecutive days
Occupancy Limits: Not explicitly specified in ordinance
Zoning Compliance: Property must be in appropriate zoning district
Local Contact: Must provide 24-hour contact who can respond to complaints within one hour

Tax Obligations

Hotel Occupancy Tax Summary:

Total Tax Rate: 13% (6% state + 7% local)
State Tax Trigger: Applies when charging $15+ per night
Local Tax Trigger: Applies when charging $2+ per night
Reporting Frequency: Monthly if collecting $500+/month, quarterly if under
Remittance: Both state and local taxes must be timely remitted

Compliance and Enforcement

Denial Criteria:

Incomplete, inaccurate, misleading, or false application statements
History of noncompliance with STR regulations
Failure to comply with zoning requirements

Revocation Grounds:

Failure to comply with permit requirements
Violations of Article 4.14 provisions
Violations of applicable federal, state, or local laws

Grace Period: 60 days from January 1, 2025 (expires March 2, 2025) for existing operators

Penalties: Violations constitute misdemeanors punishable under state law and Plainview Code Section 1.01.009

Appeal Process

Appeals filed with City Secretary within 10 days of denial/revocation
Reviewed by City Manager or designee
Decision is final

Texas State-Level Regulations

Hotel Occupancy Tax Requirements

State Rate: 6% on gross receipts
Registration: Required through Texas Comptroller's Office
Filing: Regular reporting required based on collection levels
Compliance: Must assess, collect, and remit taxes as required by Texas Tax Code Chapter 351

Municipal Authority

Local municipalities retain authority to regulate STR operations within their jurisdictions
State provides baseline tax framework; local governments can add additional taxes (up to combined 17% maximum)

Contact Information and Resources

Primary Local Authority

City of Plainview - Building Permits & Inspections

Phone: (806) 296-1100
Department: Community Development/Building Official
Function: Permit applications, inspections, compliance enforcement

Tax Remittance

Plainview Accounting Department

Address: 202 W. 5th St., Plainview, Texas 79072
Function: City HOT collection and remittance
Document: Room Occupancy Tax Report form required

Texas Comptroller's Office

Function: State HOT registration and remittance
Website: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/hotel

Municipal Resources

City of Plainview Official Website: plainviewtx.org

Municipal code and ordinances
Tax forms and reporting instructions
Business licensing information

Source Links

Primary Legal Documents

News Coverage and Implementation

State Resources

Industry Resources

Proper Insurance - Texas STR Regulations Overview

Compliance Timeline and Action Items

Immediate Actions (For New Operators)

Verify zoning compliance
Review property restrictions and HOA rules
Contact Building Permits & Inspections at (806) 296-1100
Prepare required documentation
Submit permit application with $100 fee

Ongoing Compliance Requirements

Annual: Renew STR permit ($100)
Monthly/Quarterly: File HOT reports and remittances
Continuous: Maintain 24-hour local contact capability
As Needed: Respond to complaints within one hour
Ongoing: Monitor ordinance updates and changes

This regulatory framework positions Plainview as a moderately regulated STR market, balancing investment opportunities with neighborhood protection and public revenue generation through hotel occupancy taxes.

Next step

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Ask the AI Advisor about Plainview

Plainview sits in the heart of the Texas Panhandle's South Plains, serving as the county seat of Hale County. With a population of roughly 20,000, it carries the steady rhythm of a working agricultural town, historically anchored in cotton production and ranching, and given a youthful layer by Wayland Baptist University, a private institution founded in 1908. The city is a natural service hub for the surrounding farm and ranch communities and feels wide open and unhurried, with the big-sky vistas that define the Llano Estacado. It lies about 45 miles north of Lubbock, the nearest major metropolitan area, and roughly 70 miles southeast of Amarillo.

The flat-topped Llano Estacado mesa that surrounds Plainview is itself a defining feature of the region, and the city makes a comfortable base for travelers exploring this stretch of the Panhandle. From Plainview, the dramatic scenery of Palo Duro Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of Texas and considered the second-largest canyon in the United States, lies roughly an hour and a half to the north near Amarillo, with its colorful red-rock walls, miles of hiking and biking trails, and the long-running outdoor drama "TEXAS."

Caprock Canyons State Park, about 90 miles southeast of Plainview, offers a quieter but equally striking alternative. The park is home to the official Texas State Bison Herd and features rugged canyons, scenic drives, and trails that wind through the southern edge of the Llano Estacado, including the dramatic Clarity Tunnel and the rim of the Caprock Escarpment.

For visitors who want a city experience, Lubbock is about a 45-minute drive to the south and offers the Buddy Holly Center, the National Ranching Heritage Center, and the cultural and sporting amenities of Texas Tech University, giving Plainview-area guests an easy day trip into a much larger city without losing the quiet of a Panhandle base camp.

Plainview's combination of small-town pace, deep agricultural heritage, and proximity to both Lubbock and the Panhandle's signature landscapes makes it a practical base for short-term rentals, particularly for visitors in town for university events, regional work, hunting weekends, or scenic drives that take in Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons, and the wide horizons of the surrounding Llano Estacado.

Plainview, Texas

Generally Investor Friendly

STR Regulations for Plainview, Texas