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Presidio, TX

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STR Regulations for Presidio, Texas

Overview and Status

Yes — short-term rentals (STRs) are allowed in Presidio, TX. The City of Presidio has adopted a formal short‑term rental ordinance that requires STR operators to register with the city, undergo an annual safety inspection, pay hotel occupancy tax (HOT), and maintain a local responsible party who can respond in emergencies. This framework applies to listings on platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO and to any rental intended for occupancy of fewer than 30 days.

The ordinance levels the playing field by bringing online STRs into the same tax and safety regime as traditional lodging, ensuring revenue for tourism and community initiatives while supporting responsible hosting.

How to Start a Short‑Term Rental Business in Presidio

  • Confirm zoning eligibility for your property. Ensure the unit is within city limits and permitted for STR use (confirm with the City of Presidio regarding residential zoning constraints).
  • Secure a state tax permit (if you don’t already have one) for hotel occupancy tax (HOT) remittance. Online platforms can assist with automated collection; verify your platform’s compliance and reporting setup.
  • Designate a local responsible party (LRP). Identify and confirm availability of a contact who can be reached at all times during guest stays and respond within a reasonable time to emergencies.
  • Obtain required safety equipment and confirm habitability standards consistent with city inspection requirements.
  • Apply for the city STR permit, complete the inspection, and receive your registration number.
  • Set up tax remittance for the local HOT rate of 7% and any associated filings per city guidance.
  • List and operate in compliance with city rules. Maintain guest communications and ensure your LRP details are accessible to guests and authorities.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • City STR Permit
    • Annual cost: $100
    • Includes an annual safety inspection and a registration number used for HOT tax enrollment
  • Registration Number
    • Required for enrollment in the HOT tax roll and for platform/listing compliance
  • State Sales/Hotel Occupancy Tax Permit
    • Required to remit state and local hotel occupancy taxes to the Texas Comptroller
    • Platforms may collect and remit automatically; ensure alignment with state and local requirements
  • Local Responsible Party (LRP) Designation
    • Name and phone number of a responsible party who is reachable by phone or in person at all times when the STR is occupied
    • Must be able to respond to the property within a reasonable time of a distress call
  • Safety Inspection
    • Annual inspection is bundled with the $100 permit fee; ensure compliance with local safety standards
  • Insurance
    • Though not explicitly cited in the ordinance, carry appropriate property and liability coverage to protect your investment and comply with platform and lender requirements

Specific Regulations for Short‑Term Rentals in Presidio

  • Registration Requirement
    • All STRs (including those on Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms) must register with the City of Presidio
  • Permit and Inspection
    • Annual permit fee: $100
    • Includes safety inspection and registration number
  • Safety Stipulations
    • Must designate a local responsible party reachable at all times during guest occupancy and able to respond in a reasonable time
  • Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT)
    • Local HOT tax rate: 7%
    • The tax may not be levied against long‑term renters (≥30 days) or state/federal employees on official business
    • There is a 1% penalty fee for noncompliance
    • The city administrator and city attorney may bring suit against delinquent property owners
  • Enforcement and Penalties
    • Violations of the STR ordinance carry fines up to $2,000
    • Legal remedies available for HOT tax delinquency
  • Uses of Remitted Taxes
    • Convention and Visitor Bureau activities, tourism information centers, community events (e.g., fireworks, parades), and other approved tourism infrastructure and programming as authorized by the ordinance

Texas‑Level Regulations and Context

  • State HOT Rate
    • Texas imposes a state hotel occupancy tax of 6% on room charges; local jurisdictions may add additional HOT
    • Presidio’s local rate of 7% is collected in addition to the state rate
  • Sales/Hotel Tax Permits
    • Texas requires operators to obtain a sales/HOT tax permit from the Texas Comptroller and remit applicable taxes
    • Platforms may collect and remit for hosts; hosts remain responsible for compliance
  • Long‑Term Rental Exemptions
    • Local STR/HOT rules apply to rentals under 30 days; rentals 30 days or longer are typically exempt from HOT

Contact Information for Local Authority

  • City of Presidio
    • Administrative Contact: City Administrator Pablo Rodriguez
    • Primary City Hall: 915‑229‑4951
    • City Hall Address: 1500 East O’Reilly St., Presidio, TX 79845
    • Mayor: John Ferguson (policy oversight)
    • Convention & Visitor Bureau (tourism/visitor‑center inquiries): Council Member Arian Velázquez‑Ornelas serves as board director
  • Online Platform Registration Support
    • Platforms such as Airbnb/VRBO often provide automated tax collection and compliance documentation; consult your platform for details and set up proper remittance flows

Notes for Investors

  • Operating Model
    • If you are an out‑of‑state owner, plan for a capable local responsible party who can handle guest issues and emergency response, keeping in mind “reasonable time” expectations and inspection scheduling
  • Compliance Timeline
    • The city’s legal team will provide applications and process details for official STR registration; factor this into launch timelines
  • Risk Management
    • Ensure robust insurance and maintain logs of safety inspections, guest communications, and tax remittance to demonstrate compliance
  • Community Impact
    • Presidio’s tourism economy is growing; the city aims to balance growth with preserving a small‑town feel. Hosting can contribute meaningfully to that economy while maintaining neighborhood integrity

Source Links

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Presidio?

Presidio hosts earn a median $18,310/year with $117 ADR and 44% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $27,163+ per year.

See the full Presidio market breakdown

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Presidio

Market Saturation Score

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Mild Saturation
4/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
2–4 declining months: early saturation pressure - watch for trend persistence.
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Photos of Presidio

Overview of Presidio

Presidio is a small border city in Presidio County, in the far southwestern corner of Texas, hugging the Rio Grande across from the Mexican town of Ojinaga, Chihuahua. With a population of roughly 4,400, it has the unhurried, sun-bleached character of a remote desert community that has long served as a waypoint rather than a destination in its own right. Travelers know it best as one of the western gateways to the Big Bend region, and as the last major American town before the Chihuahuan Desert opens up into the mountains and river canyons of far West Texas. The nearest large city is El Paso, which sits about 250 miles to the northwest along US 67 and I-10, a drive of roughly four to five hours through wide-open ranchland.

Just a few miles east of town, Fort Leaton State Historic Site anchors Presidio's sense of frontier history. Once a private fortified trading post built in the 1840s by former Texas Ranger Ben Leaton, the adobe compound now functions as a museum and visitor center, with exhibits on the long, complicated human story of the lower Big Bend, from prehistoric peoples through the era of the Comanche and Apache trade in goods, livestock, and people. It is a natural first stop for guests arriving in the area.

A little over an hour east of Presidio, Big Bend Ranch State Park offers the kind of scale rarely seen outside of a national park. At more than 300,000 acres, it is the largest state park in Texas and a far quieter alternative to its more famous neighbor, with backcountry drives, the closed basin of the Solitario, and miles of designated hiking and equestrian trails. Lodging inside the park is limited, which makes Presidio an attractive base for visitors who want to spend the day exploring the ranch and return to a private rental for the evening.

Roughly two and a half to three hours to the east lies Big Bend National Park, the marquee draw of the region. The park's dramatic namesake bend of the Rio Grande, its Chisos Mountains, the Santa Elena and Boquillas canyons, and its exceptionally dark night skies draw travelers from across the country, many of whom pass through Presidio as part of a longer Big Bend loop that also includes the state park and a crossing into Ojinaga.

For short-term rental owners, Presidio's appeal is largely a function of what surrounds it. The town is small, affordable, and strikingly uncrowded, yet it sits within reach of two of Texas's most expansive public-land destinations and a vibrant border culture that includes one of the region's more distinctive chili and taco traditions just across the river. Guests tend to come for the desert, the mountains, and the stars, and to use Presidio as a quiet, authentic base from which to chase them.

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