Galveston

While Galveston has a series of STR ordinances, recent dramatic increases in the number of STRs has raised the ire of local citizens, who are now looking to revise and begin limiting the damages done by STRs in residential neighborhoods.

Short Term Rental Rules and Registration

Galveston News

Galveston Central Appraisal district begins treating vacation rentals as businesses. (2024)

Not every Galveston Airbnb and Vrbo trip comes with a happy ending. “It was cute, except for the dead body and all.” (2024)

Jamaica Beach council set to vote on limiting rental properties. City staff members are proposing to restrict the number of short-term rentals allowed in Jamaica Beach, citing undesirable characteristics and inconsistencies with the city’s residential character, according to an agenda for a Thursday night meeting. (2024)

Market winds are cooling Galveston's vacation rental fever. (2023)

Guest commentary: Galveston must get short-term rentals under control. Of the island’s 26,000 housing units, 4,300 are now registered short-term rentals. Another 800 short-term rentals are believed to be operating illegally, so that’s at least 5,100 total. Roughly 2,500 short-term rentals are down west beach. The other 2,600 are operating in the core of our city. (2022)

Galveston's long vacation rental debate shifts to a deeper question. (2022)

Airbnb and vacation rentals took over Galveston, Texas - What Happens When Airbnb Swallows Your Neighborhood. We went to a particular neighborhood where there were maybe 20 short-term rentals in a two-block. And as we walked around, I didn’t see any people, but I did see maids scurrying from one short-term rental to the other, as if on some sort of timed clock, carrying cleaning supplies. It was like being in a big open-air hotel, except it was outside and in the middle of the day. (2021)

The Rise of Short-Term Rentals in Galveston. In a little over a year STRs have increased by 125% - and neighbors are fighting back to keep their neighborhoods. (2021)

Hurricanes Couldn’t Destroy Galveston’s Spirit. The Vacation Rental Boom Just Might. – Texas Monthly (2021)