Issue No. 2 · September 28, 2026
Hey host. If you host in San Antonio, TX, your permit is about to get a lot more expensive: the new fee schedule takes effect October 1, just days away. That's the headline this week, alongside a unanimous vote in Chatham County, GA that puts county code enforcement behind HOA short-term rental rules.
This Week's Regulation Changes
San Antonio, TX: City Council's FY2027 budget, adopted September 17, raises short-term rental permit fees under the city's cost-recovery model. Type 1 (owner-occupied) permits rise from $300 to $450 (a 50% increase); Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) permits rise from $450 to $1,000 (a 122% increase). The new fees post in BuildSA starting October 1, 2026. If you hold or are applying for a San Antonio STR permit, confirm which type applies to your listing and budget for the higher fee before your next renewal. Source →
Chatham County, GA: County Commissioners voted unanimously on September 25 to amend the short-term rental ordinance so homeowners association rules now carry the weight of county code enforcement: an HOA violation can trigger a county enforcement action, not just an internal HOA dispute. No effective date was stated in the record. If you operate an STR in an HOA in unincorporated Chatham County, re-read your HOA's short-term rental rules now and treat any violation as a county compliance matter going forward. Source →
ADU Corner
ADU Tip of the Week: The permit delay trap almost nobody expects
The most common cause of ADU permitting delays isn't a slow city, it's a mismatch between your approved plans and what inspectors find on-site. A window moved a few feet, a wall relocated during framing, anything that doesn't match the stamped plans can trigger a full re-review cycle and add weeks to your timeline. Treat your approved plans as fixed once submitted. If a change comes up mid-build, however small it feels, run it back through the permit office first rather than just building it and hoping nobody notices at final inspection.
Trend of the Week: cumulative restricted jurisdictions
Running total of jurisdictions flagged with a new STR restriction or ban since we started tracking. Now at 8.
STR Idea of the Week
Turn your permit number into a guest-facing trust signal
With fee hikes and stricter enforcement showing up in cities like San Antonio and Chatham County this week, compliant hosts can turn that compliance into a booking advantage instead of just absorbing the cost. Guests increasingly check for this before booking in cities where enforcement is visible in the local news, and a visible permit number can also head off the kind of neighbor complaint that triggers a code enforcement visit in the first place.
Where to put it
Listing description: one line, "Licensed & permitted, #[your permit number]"
Welcome guide: alongside your check-in instructions, on the first page
Entryway: a small printed card next to any required compliance signage
Cost: $0, and about five minutes to add everywhere
Best Practices
Set up a quarterly local-ordinance check-up
Rules are shifting fast enough, town by town, that "I checked when I got my permit" isn't a safe compliance posture anymore. Block 20 minutes once a quarter to review your standing.
Quarterly check-up checklist
Has your city or county's STR ordinance or fee schedule changed since you last checked?
If you're in an HOA, have its short-term rental rules changed, and are you still in compliance?
Is your permit or license still current, with your renewal date on your calendar?
Have your liability insurance and any required safety inspections kept pace with local requirements?
General guidance only, not legal advice: requirements vary by city and county. Confirm your own jurisdiction's checklist before an inspection.
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