The Galveston Hotel/Motel Application is the City of Galveston form for the annual permit that hotels, motels, rooming houses and bed and breakfasts need when they do not have a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating. It is handled by the Development Services Department, Planning and Development Division, and is brought in after the required inspections are passed. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the City publishes the official PDF at galvestontx.gov, and the application itself is delivered to the City in person.
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What is Hotel/Motel Application – Galveston, TX?
The Hotel/Motel Application is the City of Galveston permit application, handled by the Development Services Department's Planning and Development Division, for operating a hotel, motel, rooming house or bed and breakfast in Galveston, Texas.
The City describes the form as part of its Hotel/Motel, Boarding/Rooming House, and Bed and Breakfast Application process. Once the application, the passed inspections and the fees come together, the planner on duty completes the process and issues the inspection sticker. The permit expires 12/31 of each year.
The City's code (Article III, Sec. 18-13 to 18-16) says no person may operate a hotel, motel, rooming house or bed and breakfast without a valid permit, and it defines "hotel" to include rooming houses and bed and breakfasts. Those establishments are also inspected annually by the building official or designee.
The form states that the permit is required only for facilities that do not have a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating. The code adds that a hotel or motel with a current rating, or a rating from a similar entity approved by the director of development services or designee, is exempt from the inspection and fee requirements.
The form has four parts: I. Applicant Information, II. Property Information, III. Applicant Checklist and IV. Acknowledgements. A Departmental Use Only block is completed by City staff. It is not the registration for short-term vacation rentals, which register with the Park Board of Trustees.
Who needs to file Hotel/Motel Application – Galveston, TX?
Operators of hotels, motels, rooming houses and bed and breakfasts in the City of Galveston that do not have a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating file this application. The City's process covers hotels and motels, boarding/rooming houses and bed and breakfasts, and the code defines "hotel" to include rooming houses and bed and breakfasts.
- First-time applicants mark the first-time box on the form and must also include a Limited Use Affidavit, which applies to new facilities only, as required per Table 2.201 of the Land Development Regulations.
- Renewing operators mark the renewal box, because the permit expires 12/31 of each year.
- Representatives may complete the form as Applicant/Representative, but the signer certifies full authority to make the application. The property owner also signs in Part II.
Exclusions: facilities with a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating, or a rating from a similar entity approved by the director of development services or designee, are exempt from the inspection and fee requirements. Short-term vacation rentals do not use this form; they register with the Park Board of Trustees at (409) 797-5000 or (409) 797-5132.
When to file Hotel/Motel Application – Galveston, TX
The permit expires 12/31 of each year, so a hotel, motel, rooming house or bed and breakfast needs a new permit for each calendar year, and the form has separate boxes for a first-time application and a renewal. The order matters: you first schedule the Fire Department and City Marshal inspections, and only after both inspections pass do you bring the completed application to the City.
Operation depends on passing all required inspections. The form warns that operating without the inspections and the permit may result in additional fines or revocation of the City of Galveston permit. The City's code also provides for annual inspection of these establishments. The form prints no other filing deadline.
Documents you need
- Limited Use Affidavit: required for new facilities only, as required per Table 2.201 of the Land Development Regulations.
- Proof of a passed Fire Department Final Inspection: the Fire Department signature is required on the application.
- Proof of a passed Code Enforcement Final Inspection: the Code Enforcement signature is required on the application.
How to fill out Hotel/Motel Application – Galveston, TX
Confirm you need the permit
The form says the permit is required only for facilities without a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating. Short-term vacation rentals register with the Park Board of Trustees instead.
Mark first-time applicant or renewal
At the top, check the box for FIRST TIME APPLICANT or RENEWAL. New facilities will also need the Limited Use Affidavit.
Complete Part I, Applicant Information
Enter the Applicant/Representative Name, Telephone, Mailing Address, E-mail Address, Business Name and Business Telephone.
Complete Part II, Property Information
Enter the Owner Name, Owner Telephone, Property Address, Owner E-mail Address and No. of Rooms. The owner signs on the Owner Signature line.
Work through the Part III checklist
Part III lists the Limited Use Affidavit (new facilities only), the passed Fire Department and Code Enforcement final inspections, and the fees payable to the City of Galveston. Check each item that applies.
Collect the inspectors' signatures
After the Fire Department and City Marshal inspections pass, the Fire Department and Code Enforcement sign in the departmental block. Do not fill in the Departmental Use Only area yourself.
Sign Part IV, Acknowledgements
Print your name, sign and date the certification that you have full authority to make the application and that the information is true and correct.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, addresses, room count and checked boxes, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and bring it to the City as described under How to submit.
How to submit Hotel/Motel Application – Galveston, TX
The form names one channel: you bring the completed application to the City in person, after the inspections are passed.
- In person: Public Utilities Building, 3015 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550. Ask for the planner on duty to complete the process and receive the inspection sticker.
- What to bring: the completed application with all inspectors' signatures, and the fees, payable to the City of Galveston.
- Inspections first: call the Fire Department at (409) 797-3850 and the City Marshal at (409) 797-3647 to schedule them.
- Form source: the City lists the application on its Applications, Fees, and FAQs page at https://www.galvestontx.gov/647/Applications-Fees-and-FAQs.
- Questions: Planning and Development Division, 409/797-3660 or [email protected]. A fee applies; ask the Division for the current amount.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Bringing the application to the City before both the Fire Department and Code Enforcement inspections have passed and the inspectors have signed it.
- Omitting the Limited Use Affidavit when the facility is new; the checklist requires it for new facilities only.
- Applying when the facility holds a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating; the form says the permit is required only for facilities without one.
- Using this form for a short-term vacation rental, which registers with the Park Board of Trustees instead.
- Operating before passing the inspections and receiving the permit; the form warns of additional fines and possible revocation.
- Forgetting that the permit expires 12/31 of each year and not marking Renewal on the next year's application.
- Making the fee payable to anyone other than the City of Galveston.
- Signing without a printed name; the acknowledgement asks for the printed name and signature of the applicant, plus the date.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a hotel/motel permit in Galveston, TX?
Yes, if you operate a hotel, motel, rooming house or bed and breakfast without a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating. The City of Galveston form says the permit is required only for facilities that do not have one of those ratings.
Are rated hotels and motels exempt from the Galveston permit?
A hotel or motel that carries and can show a current AAA, Mobile or National Flag rating is exempt from the inspection and fee requirements. So is one with a rating from a similar entity approved by the director of development services or designee.
When does the Galveston hotel/motel permit expire?
All such permits expire on 12/31 of each year. The application has separate boxes for a first-time application and a renewal, so you submit a new application each year.
Where do I bring the Galveston hotel/motel application?
Bring it to the Public Utilities Building, 3015 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550, and ask for the planner on duty. Bring the inspectors' signatures and the fees, payable to the City of Galveston, because both inspections must pass first.
Is there a fee, and how much is it?
Yes, a fee applies and is payable to the City of Galveston. The amount is printed on the form and in the City's code, but confirm the current figure with the Planning and Development Division at 409/797-3660.
Does this form cover short-term vacation rentals?
No. The City's note on the form says short-term vacation rentals register with the Park Board of Trustees at (409) 797-5000 or (409) 797-5132, not with this application.
Is this form related to Galveston property tax?
No. It is a permit application for hotels, motels, rooming houses and bed and breakfasts, handled by the City's Development Services Department with inspections and a permit fee, not a property tax document.
Can I fill out the Galveston Hotel/Motel Application online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the application to the City of Galveston; you bring it in person after the inspections pass.
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