Austin, Texas Short-Term Rental Market Overview
Visitor Profile
About 30 million people visited Austin in 2024, and roughly nine out of ten came from elsewhere in the United States. On average, visitors are in their mid-40s with an even split between women and men. Most hold a college degree and report household incomes above the national average.
Many travelers mix work with downtime, extending business trips to explore the city. Big festivals like SXSW draw a younger crowd—about 62 percent are between 26 and 45—while other events and the city’s music, food, and outdoor scenes appeal to families, couples, and solo adventurers alike.
Top Attractions
Austin is the state capital of Texas, an inland city bordering the Hill Country region. Home to the University of Texas flagship campus, Austin is known for its eclectic live-music scene centered around country, blues and rock. Its many parks and lakes are popular for hiking, biking, swimming and boating. South of the city, Formula One’s Circuit of the Americas raceway has hosted the United States Grand Prix.
Regulations
On Feb. 27, 2025 the Austin City Council adopted changes to the city’s short-term rental ordinance. Most of these changes will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2025. Changes to Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) collection will go into effect April 1, 2025. We will post more information about the new regulations on this page as they become available.
All applications submitted during this time will be reviewed under the current regulations. Only applications that are received after the effective date of the new regulations will be under them.
Short-term rentals (STRs), residences rented for less than 30 consecutive days, are regulated by City ordinance and licensed annually by Development Services Department Code Compliance. The goal of STR regulations is to encourage the safety of structures for people and pets, ensure their compatible existence with the surrounding environment, and allocate resources to provide education and address violations.
Austin, Texas Market Performance Trends
Austin, Texas Rental Market Insights
10-Year Market Growth
Booking Activity
- 1-3 Months:60.1% Booked
- 4-6 Months:53.5% Booked
- 7-9 Months:43.2% Booked
- 10-12 Months:11.7% Booked
Cancellation Policies
- Flexible:29.1%
- Moderate:28.7%
- Strict:38.9%
- Super Strict:38.9%
- N/A:1.5%
Minimum Stay
- 1 Day:3,620
- 2 Days:4,004
- 3 Days:1,710
- 4-6 Days:697
- 7-29 Days:741
- 30+ Days:1,074
