Important Dates
Full Platform Launch: November 25, 2025
Beginning October 1, 2025, all Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) payments and STR registrations will move to a Host Compliance Open Form until the full platform launches on November 25, 2025.
Action Required: Please log in to your current MuniRevs/GovOS account and download or save any data or reports you need before November 12, 2025. After that date, you will no longer have access to your historical records.
Total HOT
11% (5% City + 6% State)
Registration renewal
Dec 31 (annually)
Next due: Dec 31, 2025
Platforms
Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.
They send state 6% only.
System
Host Compliance
Open Form Oct 1 → full Nov 25.
About the Short-Term Rental Program
If you plan to offer your property in Surfside Beach, Texas as a short-term rental, you must apply for a permit before you list the rental on websites such as Airbnb or Vrbo. This is one of the short-term rental rules required by local law.
The goal of our short-term rental program is to make the home-sharing economy work for everyone in Surfside — property owners, rental managers, tourists, and our residents.
Surfside uses Granicus’ Host Compliance to identify STRs and help owners stay in compliance.
Pay Your Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT)
Use this temporary OpenForm while Surfside transitions to the full Host Compliance platform:
Pay HOT (OpenForms)
HOT must be submitted even if no tax is due for the month.
Payment processor: Stripe. A convenience fee may apply and cannot be altered or dismissed per ordinance Sec. 44-49.
Register or Renew Your Short-Term Rental
Until Host Compliance is fully live, register or renew your STR using the OpenForms link below:
STR Registration (OpenForms)
Annual Renewal: Surfside STR registrations expire on December 31 each year. Renewals are due by December 31. Fees are not prorated — the cost is the same no matter when you register during the year.
Next renewal due: December 31, 2025.
Fees & Payments
| Type |
Frequency |
Amount |
Notes |
| STR Registration |
Annual (Dec 31) |
$200.00 |
Not prorated |
| Late HOT Payment |
Per occurrence |
5% → 10% |
+10% interest per annum after 60 days |
How to Run a Compliant Short-Term Rental
1. What is a short-term rental?
Short-term rentals are residential units rented for 30 days or less. They can be houses, apartments, condos, cabins, rooms, or other dwellings.
Property owners must apply for a permit, post the placard, maintain a 24/7 local contact, and pay HOT.
2. Do booking platforms pay Surfside’s tax?
They do not remit the Surfside local 5%. You are still responsible for collecting and remitting the local tax to the Village.
3. 24/7 local contact requirement
Your registration must list a local contact person who can respond in person within 1 hour to complaints about the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants. (Ordinance Sec. 44-48(f)(3)).
4. Placard & registration number
Each property will be issued a registration number and a placard that must be posted visible from the street. The registration number must appear on any advertisement of the property for short-term rental. (Sec. 44-48(h)(3) & (i)).
5. 30+ day stays (permanent resident)
No tax shall be collected from a guest after becoming a permanent resident. A guest becomes a permanent resident after occupancy for 30 continuous days, or upon notifying the lodging provider in writing that they will stay 30+ days and then actually staying that long. (Sec. 44-47).
6. Self-check: STR Compliance Checklist
- I have registered my STR with Surfside.
- I have posted the City-issued placard and registration number.
- I have a local 24/7 contact who can respond within 1 hour.
- I am collecting 11% HOT from guests (5% City + 6% State).
- I am filing monthly/quarterly returns even for $0 activity.
- I keep my records for at least 4 years (Sec. 44-54).
HOT Due Dates & Reporting
Monthly / Quarterly (Texas)
- Monthly: Due on the 20th of the following month.
- Quarterly (if qualified): Due on the 20th after the end of the quarter.
- Penalties: $50 late report; 5% penalty 1–30 days late; 10% penalty after 30 days.
- On-time discount: 1% if filed and paid by the due date.
Surfside Reporting
- Q1 (Jan–Feb–Mar) → Due Apr 20
- Q2 (Apr–May–Jun) → Due Jul 20
- Q3 (Jul–Aug–Sep) → Due Oct 20
- Q4 (Oct–Nov–Dec) → Due Jan 20
A report must be filed even if no tax is due.
Local penalties: 5% on first late day; +5% at 30 days; 10% interest per annum begins 60 days past due.
Transition Timeline
-
- Oct 1, 2025 – All HOT payments & STR registrations move to OpenForms (interim).
- Nov 12, 2025 – Last day to download data/reports from MuniRevs/GovOS.
- Nov 25, 2025 – Full Host Compliance platform launch.
- Dec 31, 2025 – STR annual renewals due.
Ordinance & Legal Authority
Surfside’s hotel occupancy tax and short-term rental requirements are established in the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 44, Article III – Hotel Occupancy Tax.
View the Surfside Ordinance on Municode
Key Definitions (Sec. 44-44)
Key terms used in the Surfside Hotel Occupancy Tax ordinance.
Tax Rate (Sec. 44-45)
Total 11% (5% City + 6% State).
Returns & Payments (Sec. 44-49)
Operators must collect HOT from guests, remit monthly by the 20th, and maintain records for 4 years. Stripe convenience fees apply.
Compliance & Penalties (Sec. 44-54)
Penalties include 5% late fee, another 5% after 30 days, and 10% annual interest after 60 days. The City may sue to collect unpaid amounts.
Report an Illegal or Problem STR
If you believe a property is operating without a permit, is not remitting HOT, or is causing noise, trash, or parking issues, contact us:
Email: csr@surfsidetx.org
Phone: 979-233-1531 ext. 106
Please include: property address (SITUS), description of issue, date/time, and your contact info if you want a call back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register before I list on Airbnb/Vrbo?
Yes. You must apply for a Surfside STR registration before listing your property. Use the OpenForms link above.
Do I have to pay tax every month even if I had no guests?
Yes. A report must be filed even if no tax is due for the month/quarter.
When is my STR registration due?
All Surfside STR registrations expire on December 31 each year. Fees are not prorated.
Does Airbnb pay Surfside’s 5% city HOT?
No. Platforms remit to the Village of Surfside only the state 6%. You must pay Surfside’s 5% city HOT, you are responsible.
What if a letter was sent to the wrong/old owner?
In Host Compliance, staff can mark “The letter was delivered to a former owner” and update the owner info. The letter can be invalidated so a new legal notice can be sent.
Program Transparency
To support community awareness, Surfside may publish:
- Total number of registered STRs
- Total HOT collected (annual/quarterly)
- Compliance rate (registered vs. identified)
Disclaimer: The Village of Surfside Beach provides this information for convenience. The City is not responsible for the condition, safety, or accuracy of any privately owned rental you choose. Property owners and operators are responsible for collecting and remitting all taxes due, maintaining required records, and complying with all applicable ordinances and state law.