Rental licence requirements in Austin, TX

Requirements taken from official city sources, quoted and dated.

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Who must register

There is no citywide license or registration for ordinary long-term rentals in Austin. Registration is required only for problem properties that meet the "2-5-2" criterion within a 24-month period: "The City of Austin requires multi-family and single-family rental properties (not occupied by the owner) that have met the following conditions during a 24-month period to register for the Repeat Offender Program" — two or more notices of violation that create a hazard or impair habitability and are not corrected by the deadline; or five or more such notices issued on different days, regardless of correction; or two or more citations at the same property. The filing deadline is 14 days from the city's notice, and the property remains on the list for at least two years. Exceptions: "Exceptions only apply to owner-occupied rentals and units regulated by another section of the code (e.g. hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts)".

Fee

"$983 - Registration and Renewal Fee" (a single fee covering both registration and renewal, charged per property, not per unit). If the registration is revoked, the owner must reapply and pay again; upon a change of ownership, the new owner must file a new registration within 30 days and pay the fee again (where applicable).

What tenants must receive

The registration certificate must be posted in a publicly accessible location at the property. In addition, a sign in English and Spanish is required, listing a 24-hour emergency telephone number (under Texas Property Code § 92.020) and the procedure for reporting code violations to the city; if the telephone number changes, the corrected sign is due within 3 days. Multifamily: one sign for every 50 units, at least 12x24 inches, weather-resistant material, white background and contrasting lettering. Single-family: at least 8.5x11 inches.

Penalty for operating unlicensed

The registration may be suspended or revoked; the consequence is a prohibition on leasing vacant units: "ROP properties with suspended or revoked registration will not be able to lease vacant or initially vacant units that were or become vacant until the property is brought into compliance". Grounds: failure to meet permit requirements, failure to correct a Notice of Violation by the deadline, or a determination that the property is substandard or dangerous. Upon revocation — a new application, a new fee, and a reset of the minimum time in the program. Appeals go to the Building and Standards Commission within 10 days, and then to district court. A monetary fine for failure to register is not stated on the official page — no figure is given.

What the ordinance says

"Tenant occupied rental properties that meet the criteria stated below are required to register with the City of Austin Repeat Offender Program per Ordinance No. 20130926-012. This ordinance requires inspections and other guidelines for properties that are registered." (official city document: Code Department presentation to the Building and Standards Commission, https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=274139) — Austin City Code ch. 4-14 (Rental Property), art. 1 (Repeat Offender Program); adopted as Ordinance No. 20130926-012, amended November 20, 2014.

Source: https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/repeat-offender-program · checked 2026-08-14