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Port Bolivar

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Port Bolivar, TX

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STR Regulations for Port Bolivar, Texas

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Port Bolivar?

Yes. Short-term rentals are allowed in Port Bolivar. Port Bolivar is an unincorporated community within Galveston County and is subject to Galveston City regulations (as the primary local framework for STRs on the county’s coastal areas). The City of Galveston maintains a formal short-term rental program, including registration, advertising requirements, tax remittance, and a 24/7 complaint hotline. State-level requirements (Hotel Occupancy Tax) also apply in Texas.

Bottom line: To operate legally, you must register with the City of Galveston (if hosting guests in Port Bolivar), follow the city’s rules, and comply with state tax laws.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Port Bolivar?

Port Bolivar hosts earn a median $34,860/year with $348 ADR and 44% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $59,825+ per year.

See the full Port Bolivar market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Port Bolivar

  • Choose a compliant property: ensure zoning and HOA rules allow STRs.
  • Register with the City of Galveston STR program and obtain your Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) number.
  • Set up tax compliance: collect and remit the 6% state Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and 9% city HOT, or confirm the platform is remitting state HOT on your behalf.
  • Prepare the property: install safety equipment (smoke alarms, etc.) and set a maximum occupancy that complies with local limits.
  • Establish a local contact available 24/7 to respond to issues within one hour.
  • Create listings with your GVR number on all platforms and marketing channels.
  • Enroll guests and operate: implement check-in/out processes, housekeeping, and guest communications.
  • Monitor compliance and renew your registration annually by December 31.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • City registration (GVR number) through the Galveston STR program
  • $250 registration fee (new and annual renewal)
  • Annual renewal deadline: December 31
  • Display of GVR number in all advertisements (platforms, websites, private listings)
  • Maximum occupancy limit: 10 adults per STR (typical city guidance)
  • Local contact person available 24/7 with one-hour response capability
  • Taxes: collect and remit 6% state HOT and 9% city HOT (or rely on platform remittance for state HOT)
  • HOA compliance (if applicable)
  • Maintain a “Good Neighbor” approach per City’s brochure

Specific Regulations (City of Galveston for Port Bolivar; State of Texas)

City of Galveston STR Program

  • Registration required; obtain a Galveston Vacation Rental (GVR) number
  • Registration fee: $250 (new and renewals)
  • Annual renewal: by December 31
  • Advertising: GVR number must be shown on all ads and listings
  • Occupancy: up to 10 adults per unit (standard city limit)
  • Local contact: 24/7 availability; respond to issues within one hour
  • Taxes:
    • 6% Texas state HOT
    • 9% Galveston city HOT
    • If a platform collects and remits state HOT, you may not need to register or file state returns
  • Enforcement:
    • Violations can be Class C misdemeanors (up to $500 per offense)
    • Delinquent properties face legal action and late penalties
  • Complaint and reporting:
    • 24/7 STR hotline for noise, trash, and code violations
    • Online reporting and payment portal available
  • Neighborhood restrictions:
    • Certain areas may have additional limits (City provides a map layer for neighborhoods with STR restrictions)
  • HOA rules:
    • Properties within HOAs must also follow HOA rules and restrictions

State of Texas

  • Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) of 6% applies to short-term rentals
  • If a hosting platform collects and remits state HOT, hosts may not need to register or file state returns for that tax
  • Taxes are generally remitted monthly or quarterly

Contacts (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

City of Galveston – Short-Term Rental Program

  • Email: str@galvestontx.gov
  • Phone: 409-797-5195 (Dawn Robinson; Corrine Lawrence)
  • STR Hotline (24/7 concerns/complaints): 409-247-8160
  • City Address:
    • City of Galveston, P.O. Box 779, 823 Rosenberg, Galveston, TX 77553
    • Phone: 409-797-3500

Online Resources (City of Galveston)

  • Short-Term Rental Registration & Renewals
  • Online Reporting & Payment
  • Complaint Procedures
  • Ordinances, Authorization & Penalties
  • Good Neighbor Brochure
  • Registered STR Search Portal
  • STR Data
  • Neighborhoods with STR Restrictions Map

Note: Port Bolivar is unincorporated and the City of Galveston’s STR framework applies to STRs in this area.

Links to Source Pages

If you are targeting Port Bolivar investors or operators, treat this as a “low-regulation” market compared to many other Texas coastal cities. That flexibility, combined with strong seasonal demand, typically supports attractive revenue potential. Ensure you maintain the city registration, advertising and occupancy rules, and tax compliance.

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Port Bolivar

Market Saturation Score

036912
Low Saturation
1/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
0–1 declining months: minimal saturation pressure — revenue trends are stable.
View Full Port Bolivar Market Analysis

Photos of Port Bolivar

Overview of Port Bolivar

Port Bolivar is a small unincorporated coastal community in Galveston County, Texas, sitting at the northeastern tip of the Bolivar Peninsula where Galveston Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. The community has a population of roughly 1,200 residents and carries a quiet, salt-breezy character defined by open shoreline, fishing piers, and unobstructed Gulf views. It is best known as the eastern landing point of the free Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry that links the peninsula to Galveston Island, and as a gateway to the bird-rich wetlands and beaches of the upper Texas coast. Port Bolivar lies approximately fifty miles southeast of Houston, with the drive from the city taking around ninety minutes when ferry wait times are factored in.

Fort Travis Seashore Park is a historic site on the Bolivar Peninsula that offers visitors a glimpse into the area's military past. The park features remnants of nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century coastal fortifications that once guarded the entrance to Galveston Bay, along with picnic areas, beach access, and views across the busy ship channel toward Galveston Island. It sits just a few miles from the Port Bolivar community and makes a relaxed stop for travelers exploring the peninsula.

The Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, managed by the Houston Audubon Society, is one of the most important shorebird habitats on the upper Texas Gulf Coast. The flats draw birders and naturalists from across the country, particularly during spring and fall migration when thousands of sandpipers, plovers, and terns feed on the exposed mudflats. The sanctuary is just a short drive from Port Bolivar and is widely considered a premier destination for coastal birding in North America.

A short drive farther east along the peninsula leads to High Island, a small community long famous as a spring migration hotspot. The Houston Audubon Society operates several sanctuaries here that fill with warblers, orioles, and tanagers during peak migration in April, making the area a magnet for birders and photographers. Not far from Port Bolivar, the historic Bolivar Point Lighthouse once guided ships into Galveston Bay, and although the structure has been heavily weathered by storms over the years, it remains a recognized landmark of the peninsula's maritime past.

Port Bolivar makes a compelling base for short-term rentals because of its blend of quiet coastal atmosphere, easy ferry access to the restaurants and attractions of Galveston, and proximity to some of the most celebrated birding and beach habitat on the Texas coast. Guests can spend their mornings watching shorebirds, their afternoons exploring Galveston Island, and their evenings taking in Gulf sunsets, all while enjoying a slower, more nature-oriented pace than the busier tourist hubs to the west. For travelers seeking an uncrowded Gulf Coast getaway with both solitude and accessibility, Port Bolivar offers an appealing balance.

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