Short-Term Rental permit in New Braunfels, TX
Yes — you need a permit for short-term rental work in New Braunfels.
You need a short term rental permit in every zoning district, and the city inspects the property. For a single-family home or duplex you also need a special use permit everywhere except the C-4, C-4A, and C-4B districts. Short term rentals are banned outright in residential districts and anywhere in the floodway.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | You need a short term rental permit in every zoning distr… |
| Fee | Appendix D lists a short-term rental annual inspection fee, but the amount is not printed in this text. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 144-5.17-3 (short term rental or occupancy, applicability) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the New Braunfels building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
You pull this permit yourself, as the property owner.
If you skip it
New Braunfels's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Braunfels | — | Yes | You need a short term rental permit in every zoning distr… |
| San Antonio | 30 mi | Yes | No short-term rental may operate in San Antonio without a… |
| Killeen | 98 mi | Yes | You need a short-term rental permit to operate a vacation… |
| College Station | 125 mi | Yes | Anyone operating a short-term rental must apply for and h… |
| Waco | 140 mi | Yes | You need a city license before you operate a short-term o… |
| Corpus Christi | 146 mi | Yes | Operating a short-term or vacation rental needs a short-t… |
Other work in New Braunfels
- Fence Depends
- Deck Depends
- Shed Depends
- Swimming Pool Depends
- Roof Replacement Yes
- Water Heater Yes
- HVAC Replacement Yes
- Electrical Panel Yes
- Demolition —
- Driveway —
- Tree Removal —
- Sign Depends
- Short-Term Rental Yes
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Yes
- Garage Depends
- Basement —
- Above-Ground Pool Depends
Questions people ask
How much does a short-term rental permit cost in New Braunfels?
Appendix D lists a short-term rental annual inspection fee, but the amount is not printed in this text.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
New Braunfels can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.