Short-Term Rental Regulations by Country: Comprehensive Guide for 2025

This article covers all essential short-term rental regulations available on the KeyNest website across various cities and countries. Short-term rental regulations are evolving globally as cities and governments respond to the rapid growth of platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com.

These regulations aim to balance the benefits of short-term rentals, such as tourism and supplemental income for property owners, with concerns about housing affordability, neighborhood disruption, and safety. Common regulations include limiting the number of days a property can be rented annually, requiring hosts to obtain permits or licenses, and ensuring compliance with safety and health standards.

Some cities impose strict zoning laws, while others focus on taxation and data reporting to manage the impact of short-term rentals on local communities. Explore local restrictions, administrative requirements, and legal obligations to ensure compliance with vacation rental laws.

Belgium

Short-term rental laws in Belgium differ across its three regions: Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia. Each region sets its own standards to balance tourism and housing availability.

Hosts must register their property with the local government and comply with specific zoning rules. There are also safety requirements, including fire safety certifications.

Bruxelles: Hosts must register their property with the local government and comply with specific zoning rules. There are also safety requirements, including fire safety certification

Germany

Germany imposes stringent short-term rental regulations to protect residential housing. Many cities have enacted rules to combat housing shortages caused by Airbnb rentals.

Berlin: Berlin requires hosts to obtain a permit for short-term rentals and limits the rental period for entire homes. Non-compliance can lead to heavy fines.

Frankfurt: Hosts must register properties and report rental activities. The city has also introduced caps on rental durations.

Hamburg: Local authorities monitor Airbnb listings to ensure compliance with residential zoning laws.

Munich: The city enforces strict licensing and limits rentals of entire properties to specific durations.

France

France's short-term rental laws are among the most detailed in Europe, designed to preserve housing availability while supporting the tourism industry. Hosts must comply with local ordinances and national rules, particularly in tourist-heavy areas.

Paris: Hosts are limited to renting their primary residence for a maximum of between 90 and 120 days per year. Registration is mandatory, and non-compliance results in fines.

Biarritz, Bordeaux, Cannes, Deauville, Ile de Re, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Saint-Malo, Toulouse, Vannes, Versailles: Similar to Paris, these cities require registration and adherence to rental caps. Regulations vary to address regional housing needs and tourist demand.

Italy

Italy’s short-term rental market blends regional autonomy with national regulations. Popular tourist destinations enforce policies to protect cultural heritage and housing for locals.

Bologna: Hosts must register properties with the municipality and adhere to zoning rules.

Firenze: The city has introduced restrictions in historic areas to limit the impact of tourism.

Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Roma, Venezia, Verona: Each city enforces unique caps on rental durations, registration processes, and safety standards to preserve local culture and housing availability.

Ireland

Ireland focuses on regulating short-term rentals in rent pressure zones (RPZs) to address housing shortages.

Dublin: Hosts in RPZs must register their property, adhere to rental caps, and demonstrate that the property is not reducing housing supply for long-term residents.

Spain

Spain enforces strict regulations in its tourist hotspots to ensure housing availability for locals and manage community impacts.

Barcelona: Hosts are required to obtain a tourist license and adhere to zoning restrictions, with fines for illegal rentals.

Madrid: The city has implemented stringent zoning laws and requires properties to meet specific safety and accessibility criteria.

Portugal

Portugal’s short-term rental market is managed through the Alojamento Local (AL) system, requiring hosts to register their properties. Additional restrictions apply in high-demand urban areas.

Lisbon: Certain neighborhoods are subject to caps on new short-term rental registrations.

Porto: Similar measures are in place to balance tourism and housing availability.

United Kingdom

The UK imposes various rules, including a 90-day annual limit on short-term rentals in England, alongside local council regulations.

England

London enforces a 90-day annual limit on renting entire properties for short-term stays unless special planning permission is obtained. Safety compliance is mandatory, including fire alarms and extinguishers. Hosts must report rental income to HMRC, with potential tax relief under the Rent a Room Scheme.

Cities like Bath, Brighton, Manchester, and Oxford require hosts to register their properties and adhere to the 90-day rule. New regulations set for 2025 aim to strengthen oversight of short-term rentals.

Other cities such as Blackpool, Birmingham, Cambridge, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Southampton, York have their regulations. Find out more here: 2024 England to strengthen STR regulations

Scotland

Cities like Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness have introduced licensing schemes, and stricter rules are expected in 2025.

Wales

Cardiff enforces local council regulations, with a focus on housing availability.

Northern Ireland

Belfast requires hosts to meet safety and zoning standards.

United States

Short-term rental laws in the US vary significantly by city, reflecting the country’s decentralized approach to regulation.

Florida: Cities like Miami and Orlando impose zoning restrictions and safety requirements, while statewide laws regulate taxation and registration.

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