Short-Term Rental Regulations · Coastal Bend, TX
Is Port Aransas short-term-rental friendly?
Generally yes, but not uniformly. Port Aransas and Aransas Pass allow short-term rentals with annual registration. Corpus Christi requires a permit and adds tighter zoning and density controls. No STR-specific permit rule was found in Ingleside's cited city materials.
Last updated: . Every fact links to its official source.
Town-by-town rules
| Town | Permit required? | Annual cost | Primary-residence / night-cap limits | Lodging tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Aransas | Register before operating or advertising a short-term rental. Registration runs on a calendar year and expires December 31. (Ordinance No. 2022-02, §12-252 (opens in a new tab)) | $200 for an efficiency or one bedroom, plus $100 per additional bedroom for 2026 registration. (Official fee schedule, p. 3 (opens in a new tab)) | No general primary-residence rule or annual rental-night cap was found in the cited STR ordinance. (Full STR ordinance (opens in a new tab)) | 9% city plus 6% Texas state hotel occupancy tax. (Official city HOT guide (opens in a new tab)) |
| Corpus Christi | A current city short-term rental permit is required. (City Code §5-38 (opens in a new tab)) | $250 initial application and $250 renewal. Permits end December 31. (§5-39 (opens in a new tab), §5-40 (opens in a new tab)) | Type 1 requires the owner or operator to maintain legal residence on the property. Type 2 is non-owner-occupied and subject to zoning and density rules. No annual night cap was found in the cited STR article. (City STR code article (opens in a new tab)) | 9% city plus 6% Texas state hotel occupancy tax. (City HOT page (opens in a new tab), Texas Comptroller (opens in a new tab)) |
| Aransas Pass | Registration is required before operating or advertising, and the registration number must appear in listings. (City Code §12-3 (opens in a new tab)) | $150 initial per unit and $100 renewal. Registrations expire December 31 and are not prorated. (City Code §12-3 (opens in a new tab)) | No general primary-residence rule or annual rental-night cap was found in the dedicated STR article. (Chapter 12, STR article (opens in a new tab)) | 7% city plus 6% Texas state tax. Other county or special-district tax may apply by parcel. (City Code §27-21 (opens in a new tab), Texas Comptroller (opens in a new tab)) |
| Ingleside | No STR-specific permit requirement was found in the cited city code and permit materials. (City code page (opens in a new tab), City permits and forms (opens in a new tab)) | No STR-specific permit fee or renewal schedule was found in the cited city materials. (City permits and forms (opens in a new tab)) | No STR-specific primary-residence rule or annual rental-night cap was found in the cited city materials. (Official city code (opens in a new tab)) | 7% city plus 6% Texas state tax. Other legally applicable local tax may vary. (Ingleside Code, Ch. 58, Art. IV (opens in a new tab), Texas Comptroller (opens in a new tab)) |
"Not found" means the restriction was not located in the linked official materials reviewed as of the update date. It does not prove that no later, uncodified, parcel-specific, or special-district rule applies.
Good to know
- Port Aransas: Daily and weekly rentals are limited to areas zoned R-2 or higher. (Official city HOT guide (opens in a new tab))
- Corpus Christi: New Type 1 permits are under a city-announced moratorium through November 17, 2026. Type 2 rentals in many single-family areas face a 15% block-face density cap. (Official Aug. 26, 2026 city notice (opens in a new tab), City STR code (opens in a new tab))
- Aransas Pass: The permit is unit-specific, nontransferable, and calendar-year based. (City Code §12-3 (opens in a new tab))
- Ingleside: Even without a sourced STR-specific permit, zoning, building, occupancy, nuisance, and tax rules can still apply. Verify the parcel with the city. (City code page (opens in a new tab))
FAQ
Which town is easiest for short-term rental owners?
Ingleside has the lightest STR-specific framework in the materials we reviewed, though that finding is limited to the linked city sources. Port Aransas and Aransas Pass clearly allow short-term rentals through annual registration. Corpus Christi has the most complex permit, zoning, and density structure.
Can I buy any house in Port Aransas and use it as a short-term rental?
Not always. Port Aransas limits daily and weekly rentals to R-2 or higher zoning, and Corpus Christi applies type, zoning, and density restrictions. Confirm the exact parcel before you close.
Are there annual limits on rental nights?
No annual night cap was found in the cited STR rules for these four jurisdictions. Corpus Christi still limits where some non-owner-occupied rentals may operate and how concentrated they may be.
Who collects lodging tax?
Texas charges a 6% state hotel occupancy tax, and each city adds its local rate. Platforms may collect some taxes, but the operator should confirm filing responsibility with the city and the Texas Comptroller.
General information, not legal advice. Short-term rental rules change, so verify current requirements with the jurisdiction before listing.