Cypress, Texas

Short-term rentals are permitted in Cypress, and no permit, license or registration is required for a typical property. Cypress is an unincorporated community in Harris County within the City of Houston’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, and it is not inside Houston city limits. There is no municipal zoning and no county STR zoning ordinance. Houston adopted an STR ordinance effective January 1, 2026 that requires an annual Certificate of Registration of about $275 per year, but it applies to properties within Houston city limits and generally does not reach unincorporated Cypress. Harris County does not impose STR specific permitting in unincorporated areas. The binding constraints are private deed restrictions and HOA rules, which are common in Cypress master planned communities and frequently prohibit or restrict short-term rentals regardless of governmental permission. Check the deed and HOA documents before buying. Hosts must register for and remit hotel occupancy tax. Total occupancy tax for a typical unincorporated Cypress STR is about 15%, made up of 6% Texas state tax, 7% Harris County tax and 2% Houston Sports Authority tax. The county and sports authority taxes apply to stays of 29 nights or fewer. Airbnb collects and remits all three for listings booked exclusively through its platform. On other channels such as VRBO or direct bookings, the host must collect and remit the county and sports authority portions independently. Properties inside Houston city limits owe an additional city tax, so verify your exact jurisdiction. There is no owner occupancy requirement and no primary residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated minimal.