| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Permitted with registration |
| Permit / License Required | No statewide license; hosts/platforms responsible for the levy must register with the State Revenue Office (SRO) short stay levy system. Some local co |
| Tax Rate | 7.5% Short Stay Levy on the total booking fee (including accommodation charge, cleaning fees, GST and the levy itself), excluding credit card fees. Ap |
| Night / Day Cap | No statewide night cap as of 2025–2026 (proposed but not enacted); individual councils may introduce their own night limits, typically targeting unhos |
| Minimum Stay | Levy applies to stays of less than 28 consecutive days (28+ days not subject to the levy and falls outside the short-stay definition). |
| Permit Fee | No registration fee documented; the cost is the 7.5% levy itself. Local council registration/permit fees may apply (amounts vary; Unknown). |
| Penalties | Unknown for specific levy penalty amounts (standard SRO non-lodgement/non-payment penalties and interest apply). |
| Primary Residence Required | No — but the owner's/renter's principal place of residence is exempt from the levy (i.e., levy targets non-primary-residence short stays). |
| Occupancy Limit | Unknown (no statewide occupancy cap; set by planning/local laws if any). |
Short-term rental operations in Melbourne, Victoria are permitted under an active regulatory framework as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: No statewide license; hosts/platforms responsible for the levy must register with the State Revenue Office (SRO) short stay levy system. Some local councils operate separate registration/permit scheme. The associated permit fees are No registration fee documented; the cost is the 7.5% levy itself. Local council registration/permit .
Short-term rental operators in Melbourne should be aware of these tax obligations: 7.5% Short Stay Levy on the total booking fee (including accommodation charge, cleaning fees, GST and the levy itself), excluding credit card fees. Applies to stays under 28 consecutive days.. Yes — for direct bookings, the owner must register for the short stay levy with the SRO and lodge returns; platforms register separately and need not .
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Melbourne include: Primary residence requirement: No — but the owner's/renter's principal place of residence is exempt from the levy (i.e., levy targets non-primary-resid. Rental day cap: No statewide night cap as of 2025–2026 (proposed but not enacted); individual councils may introduce their own night lim. Occupancy limit: Unknown (no statewide occupancy cap; set by planning/local laws if any).. Minimum stay: Levy applies to stays of less than 28 consecutive days (28+ days not subject to the levy and falls outside the short-sta.
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Melbourne: Councils may regulate short stays through planning and local laws; owners corporations (OCs) can ban short-stay use of lots via a special resolution (75% owner approval).. Density rules: Unknown statewide; left to local councils.. Insurance: Unknown (no statewide STR insurance mandate sourced)..
Hosts who fail to comply with Melbourne's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Unknown for specific levy penalty amounts (standard SRO non-lodgement/non-payment penalties and interest apply)..
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Melbourne: Platforms (Airbnb, Stayz, Booking.com) must register for the levy and collect/remit it on all bookings made through their platform; platforms do not register individual properties. Airbnb auto-collect.
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Melbourne with proper registration and permits. Lodgement frequency depends on total booking fees: quarterly if $75,000+ annually, otherwise annual; if annual lodgers exceed $75,000 they must switch to quarterly. Direct bookings = host self-lodges
Yes. Melbourne requires the following for short-term rental operation: No statewide license; hosts/platforms responsible for the levy must register with the State Revenue Office (SRO) short stay levy system. Some local councils operate separate registration/permit schemes (distinct from SRO)..
Short-term rental hosts in Melbourne are subject to the following tax obligations: 7.5% Short Stay Levy on the total booking fee (including accommodation charge, cleaning fees, GST and the levy itself), excluding credit card fees. Applies to stays under 28 consecutive days..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Melbourne may face enforcement. Unknown for specific levy penalty amounts (standard SRO non-lodgement/non-payment penalties and interest apply)..
Short stay defined as less than 28 consecutive days where guests do not live there. Existing council-specific STR charges removed once state levy took effect. Revenue funds Homes Victoria (social/affordable housing, 25% to regional Victoria).
LawfulStay tracks STR regulations across 1,026+ cities & countries on 6 continents, updated daily.
View in Full Database →