Hosting on Airbnb in Hot Springs

A step-by-step setup guide for Hot Springs hosts, with the local license and tax details you need before your first guest arrives.

Before you list: the city license

Inside Hot Springs city limits, renting a house, cabin, condo or apartment for periods of less than 30 days requires a Short-Term Residential Rental Business license from the city's Finance Department. Licenses renew every January 1.

The city charges an annual fee based on the property's capacity (its STR page lists $50 per bed).
An inspection is required before the first license is issued.
You must name a local property manager who is on call at all times and can be on site within 60 minutes.
Occupancy is capped at two people per bedroom, plus two.
Properties in residential zones need a special use permit, and the number of residential-zone licenses is capped. The Board of Directors lowered that cap to 400 in 2022, and the city's July 2025 update says that cap is full, with no new residential-zone licenses and no waitlist.

Many Lake Hamilton addresses are outside city limits. Confirm whether your property is inside the city before you apply, and call the Finance Department (501-321-6826) to check license availability before you buy a property for STR use.

Setting up your listing

Create your host accountSign up through Airbnb's hosting page, verify your identity, and add a clear profile photo and a short bio. Guests read it.
Describe the property accuratelyEnter the property type, bedrooms, beds, baths and guest capacity. Keep capacity within the city's limit of two per bedroom plus two.
Write a specific title and descriptionName what's actually there: a dock on Lake Hamilton, a walk to Bathhouse Row, parking for a boat trailer. Say how far it is to downtown and to Oaklawn by car.
Photograph every room in daylightShow each bedroom and bathroom, the kitchen, outdoor spaces and the view. Guests use photos to check what the description promises.
Price from real comparablesLook at nearby listings of similar size and check their calendars for the dates you care about. Airbnb's Smart Pricing and outside tools such as PriceLabs can adjust rates by date.
Set house rules and a cancellation policyCheck-in and checkout times, quiet hours, pets, smoking and parking. Hot Springs requires STRs to follow the city's noise and trash ordinances, so put those rules in writing.
Write a guidebookCheck-in steps, Wi-Fi, how the appliances work, trash day, and a few local suggestions you've tried yourself.
Schedule messagesUse Airbnb's scheduled messages for booking confirmation, check-in instructions, and a checkout reminder.
Earn your first reviewsRespond fast, keep the place spotless, and fix small problems the same day. Reviews from the first few stays carry a lot of weight.

Taxes on Hot Springs stays

For Arkansas reservations of 29 nights or fewer, Airbnb collects and remits taxes on the host's behalf. Inside Hot Springs that covers:

Tax	Rate
Arkansas gross receipts (sales) tax	6.5%
Arkansas tourism tax	2%
Local sales tax (Garland County 1.5% + Hot Springs 1.5%)	3%
Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion tax	3%

If you also take direct bookings or use a platform that doesn't collect these taxes, you're responsible for collecting and remitting them yourself.

What Airbnb charges

Airbnb has two fee structures. Under the split fee, most hosts pay 3% and guests pay a service fee that's usually 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal. Under the single fee, the whole fee comes out of the host payout; most hosts pay 15.5%.

Hosts who connect through property management software are required to use the single fee, and Airbnb says the split fee will go away once all hosts are migrated.

Hot Springs details worth knowing

Oaklawn racing season

Live racing draws visitors for months. The 2026-27 meet runs from November 27, 2026, to May 1, 2027. Check Oaklawn's stakes calendar and price the big race weekends separately.

AirCover limits

AirCover for Hosts includes up to $3 million in damage protection and $1 million in liability insurance. Airbnb says it doesn't replace your own insurance, so ask your insurer about short-term rental coverage.

Cameras and noise monitors

Since April 30, 2024, Airbnb bans security cameras that monitor any indoor space, even if switched off. Exterior cameras and noise decibel monitors are allowed if disclosed, and monitors can't be in bedrooms or bathrooms.

Other platforms

Listing on Vrbo or Booking.com too means keeping calendars in sync. A channel manager or iCal sync prevents double bookings.

Common questions

Do I need a permit to host on Airbnb in Hot Springs?

Inside city limits, yes. Stays of less than 30 days require the city's Short-Term Residential Rental Business license, renewed each January 1. Residential-zone licenses are capped at 400 and the cap is full, so check a property's zoning and license status with the city before you buy.

What does Airbnb charge hosts?

On the split fee, most hosts pay 3% and the guest pays a separate service fee. On the single fee, most hosts pay 15.5% and the guest pays no service fee. Hosts using property management software must use the single fee.

Does Airbnb collect the Hot Springs lodging taxes?

Yes, for reservations of 29 nights or fewer: Arkansas sales and tourism taxes, local sales tax, and the city's 3% Advertising and Promotion tax.

How do I become a Superhost?

Airbnb checks four things every quarter, looking back 12 months: at least 10 reservations (or 3 totaling 100 nights), a 90% response rate, a cancellation rate under 1%, and an overall rating of 4.8 or higher. Co-hosts aren't eligible.

How much can I earn?

It depends heavily on location, size, amenities and how many nights you can rent. We don't publish revenue estimates. Study comparable listings near your property, look at their booked nights, and build a budget that includes cleaning, supplies, insurance, taxes and the city license.

Questions about hosting in Hot Springs?

Tell us what you're working on and we'll point you to the right resource.

Sources

Questions about short-term rentals in Hot Springs?

Call or text 501.365.1001, or send a note and we will get back to you.

Call 501.365.1001 Get in touch