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Spain Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations 2026

LawfulStay tracks short-term rental (STR / Airbnb / Vrbo / holiday let / vacation rental) regulations for 18 cities and regions in Spain. Select a location below for current permit requirements, tax obligations, and compliance details.

2 Active 13 Restricted 3 Banned

Spain Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview

The short-term rental regulatory landscape in Spain encompasses 18 tracked jurisdictions: 2 with active regulations, 13 with restrictions, 3 where STRs are banned. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.

Approximately 94% of tracked jurisdictions in Spain require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.

Tax obligations apply in 17 of 18 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.

Notable jurisdictions where short-term rentals are currently banned or heavily restricted include Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca. Hosts should check these listings for details on specific prohibitions and any exceptions that may apply.

LawfulStay monitors Spain STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.

BarcelonaCatalonia
Complete STR phase-out: all tourist-apartment licenses end by Nov 2028.
Banned
MallorcaBalearic Islands
Balearic Islands moratorium on new STR licenses in residential zones since 2018. ETV license required. Limited slots via lottery for tourist zones. Heaviest STR…
Banned
Palma de MallorcaBalearic Islands
ETV licence is attached to the property (non-transferable to another home); the only legal route to operate is buying a property that already holds a valid ETV.…
Banned
AlicanteValencian Community
Requires a Compatibility Report. STRs in residential buildings must have an independent street entrance, separate from common residential halls/elevators.
Restricted
Canary Islands (Region)Canary Islands
Stringent safety requirements (fire extinguishers, first aid kits, emergency signage) must be maintained inside the property.
Restricted
Gran Canaria / Fuerteventura / LanzaroteCanary Islands
Ley 6/2025 (effective Dec 13, 2025): 5-year moratorium on new VV licenses. Properties must be ≥10 years old. VV licenses now non-transferable upon property sale…
Restricted
IbizaBalearic Islands
Since Dec 2, 2024, all guests (incl. minors) must be pre-registered in the SES Hospedajes system; from April 3, 2025, 60% of building co-owners must approve new…
Restricted
MadridCommunity of Madrid
Guest IDs to police Registro de Viajeros within 24h; tourist tax ~€3/person/night (up to 14 nights) per industry source; ~14,000 units operating illegally
Restricted
MenorcaBalearic Islands
Balearic ETV license required but moratorium on new licenses pending PIAT island capacity study. Unlike Canary Islands, ETV licenses ARE transferable with prope…
Restricted
MálagaAndalusia
Hosts and developers in Málaga must now navigate both the ongoing city-wide VUT registration moratorium (no new STR licences until moratorium lifts or new PGOU …
Restricted
RegionwideCanary Islands
Draft 2024-2026 Law on Sustainable Use of Tourist Housing introduces a strict 90% residential space reservation rule (10% cap for STRs).
Restricted
San SebastiánBasque Country
Subject to Basque Country tourist accommodation safety and noise regulations.
Restricted
Santiago de CompostelaGalicia
Casco Histórico center has a complete ban on new licenses. Stays are capped at 60 days per year unless operating under a commercial hotel-equivalent permit.
Restricted
SevilleAndalusia
Three-layer system: national VUD/NRU registration + SES.HOSPEDAJES guest reporting; Andalusian VFT/VUT registration (Decree 28/2016 and amendments, Decreto 31/2…
Restricted
TenerifeCanary Islands
VITUR registration required for all STRs. Community of owners can vote to ban STRs in their building. Growing urban housing pressure. Separate from Canary Islan…
Restricted
ValenciaValencian Community
Requires a Compatibility Report (Informe de Compatibilidad Urbanística) from the town hall. Ground/first floor restriction applies in residential buildings.
Restricted
LawfulStayAndalusia
Page exists; detailed research pending.
Active
Nationwide
The Valencia region of Spain has introduced stricter controls and new legislation targeting the tourist apartment and short-term rental market. The changes are …
Active