City of Bastrop Requires Registration for Short-Term Rentals

If you rent a property inside Bastrop city limits for less than 30 consecutive days, you must register it as a short-term rental (STR). The city's STR ordinance took full effect on April 26, 2025. Registration costs $25 per property per year and is done through the MyGov platform at public.mygov.us/bastrop_tx.

Hosts must provide a 24/7 local contact, maintain working smoke alarms and an evacuation plan, and show proof that hotel occupancy tax (HOT) is being collected and remitted. Each rental property on a parcel needs its own registration, even if one owner has multiple units. Annual renewal is required.

Properties outside the city limits but inside Bastrop's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) may face different rules. The county itself does not zone for STRs in unincorporated areas but does require HOT collection. Elgin and Smithville have their own ETJ areas. If you're buying with short-term rental income in mind, confirm jurisdiction before closing. Contact Bastrop Development Services at (512) 332-8840 or info@cityofbastrop.org with questions.