For the purpose of this division, the following definitions shall apply, unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
Consideration.
The cost of the room, sleeping space, bed or dormitory space, or other facility in such hotel, and shall not include the cost of any food served or personal services rendered to the occupant not related to cleaning and readying such room for occupancy and shall not include any tax assessed for occupancy thereof by any other governmental agency.
Hotel.
A building, trailer, or other facility, in which the public may, for a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations. The term includes a hotel, motel, short-term rental, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn, rooming house, or bed and breakfast. The term does not include a hospital, sanitarium or nursing home, nor does the term include a dormitory or other housing facility owned or leased and operated by an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education as those terms are defined by Texas Education Code, section 61.003, used by the institution for the purpose of providing sleeping accommodations for persons engaged in an educational program or activity at the institution.
Occupancy.
The use or possession or the right to the use or possession of any room, space, or sleeping facility in a hotel for any purpose.
Occupant.
Anyone who for a consideration uses, possesses, or has a right to use or possess any room or rooms or sleeping space or facility in a hotel under any lease, concession, permit, right of access, license, contract, or agreement.
Permanent resident.
Any occupant who has or shall have the right to occupancy of any room or sleeping space or facility in a hotel for at least 30 consecutive days during the current calendar year or preceding year, so long as there is no interruption of payment for the period.
Person.
Any individual, company, corporation, or association owning, operating, managing, or controlling any hotel.
Quarterly period.
The regular calendar quarters of the year, the first quarter being composed of the months of January, February, and March; the second quarter being the months of April, May, and June; the third quarter being the months of July, August, and September; and the fourth quarter being the months of October, November, and December.
Short-term rental.
A dwelling unit that is rented out for compensation on a temporary basis for a period of less than thirty (30) consecutive days; including, but not limited to, single-family unit, duplex unit, tri-plex, four-plex unit, multifamily unit, manufactured or mobile home unit, townhome, or condominium.
Tax assessor and collector.
The tax assessor and collector of the city.
(1966 Code, sec. 16-1/2-21; Ordinance 505 adopted 9/17/81; 1999 Code, sec. 33.30; Ordinance 1198 adopted 1/8/2024)
(a) 
There is hereby levied a tax upon the cost of occupancy of any room or space furnished by any hotel within the city or within one mile of the city’s corporate boundaries (the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction) where such cost of occupancy is at the rate of $2 or more per day, such tax to be equal to 7% of the consideration paid by the occupant of such room, space, or facility to such hotel, exclusive of other occupancy taxes imposed by other governmental agencies. Provided, however, the tax shall not be imposed if, as a result of the adoption of the combined rate of state, county, and municipal hotel occupancy taxes within the extraterritorial jurisdiction, such combined tax rate would exceed 15% of the price paid for a room in a hotel. In such event, the tax hereinabove provided shall be levied only upon hotels, rooms, or space furnished within the corporate limits of the city. The hotel operator shall be responsible for collection of the tax levied by this section without regard to whether the occupancy was arranged or paid for directly by the occupant or a third party such as an online travel company or other agent.
(b) 
No tax shall be imposed hereunder upon a permanent resident.
(c) 
No tax shall be imposed hereunder upon a corporation or association organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, or educational purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
(1966 Code, sec. 16-1/2-22; Ordinance 505 adopted 9/17/81; Ordinance 661 adopted 3/10/94; Ordinance 761 adopted 12/16/02; 1999 Code, sec. 33.31; Ordinance 1158 adopted 7/18/22)
Every person owning, operating, managing, or controlling any hotel shall collect the tax imposed in section 2.08.092 hereof for the city.
(1966 Code, sec. 16-1/2-23; Ordinance 505 adopted 9/17/81; 1999 Code, sec. 33.32)
(a) 
On the last business day of the month following the month of collection, every person required hereby to collect the tax imposed by this chapter shall file a report with the city; said report shall show the consideration paid for all room occupancies in the preceding month, the amount of tax collected on the city's behalf on such occupancies, the number of persons exempt from the hotel/motel tax during the month, and any other information on a form promulgated by the tax collector. Such person shall also pay over the tax due on such occupancies at the time of filing such report. At the time of the quarterly report and payment of the state hotel occupancy tax, there shall also be furnished to the city tax collector a copy of such quarterly report.
(b) 
Short-term rentals collect and remit the hotel occupancy tax in accordance with Texas Tax Code ch. 351. The operator shall remit to the city, all city hotel occupancy taxes collected pursuant to state law by the 20th business day of the month following the month of collection. If a taxpayer owes less than $500.00 for a calendar month or less than $1,500.00 for a calendar quarter, the taxpayer qualifies as a quarterly filer. A quarterly filer shall remit all city hotel occupancy taxes collected pursuant to state law by the 20th business day of the month following the month ending the quarter.
(1966 Code, sec. 16-1/2-24; Ordinance 505 adopted 9/17/81; 1999 Code, sec. 33.33; Ordinance 1198 adopted 1/8/2024)
The tax assessor and collector shall adopt such procedures, rules, and regulations as are reasonably necessary effectively to collect the tax levied herein, and shall, upon request of any person owning, operating, managing, or controlling any hotel, furnish a copy of such procedures, rules, and regulations for the guidance of such person and to facilitate the collection of such tax as such collection is required herein. Such procedures, rules, and regulations shall be in writing and a copy thereof shall be placed on file with the city secretary. The tax assessor and collector shall be permitted to have access to books and records during reasonable business hours as shall be necessary to enable the tax assessor and collector to determine the correctness of the amount due under the provisions of this division, or to determine whether or not a report should have been filed and the amount, if necessary, of taxes due.
(1966 Code, sec. 16-1/2-25; Ordinance 505 adopted 9/17/81; 1999 Code, sec. 33.34)
If any person required by the provisions of this division to collect the tax imposed herein, or make reports as required herein, and pay to the tax assessor and collector the tax imposed herein, shall fail to collect such tax, file such report, or pay such tax, or if any such person shall file a false report, or any such person shall violate any of the provisions of this division, such person shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be punished by a fine as provided by the city charter, and shall pay to the tax assessor and collector the tax due, together with a penalty of 5% of the tax due for each 30 days that the same is not timely filed.
(1966 Code, sec. 16-1/2-26; Ordinance 505 adopted 9/17/81; 1999 Code, sec. 33.35)