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Chengdu

Sichuan · China
Restricted
Last updated: 2026-07-30  ·  Last verified: 2026-07-30  ·  Region: International

At a Glance — Chengdu Airbnb & STR Rules

RuleDetails
Regulatory StatusRestricted — rules apply
Permit / License RequiredYes. Same national framework as Shenzhen with Sichuan provincial and Chengdu municipal additions. STR operators must: (1) Obtain a business license fr
Tax RateVAT (增值税): 6% for accommodation services (general taxpayer) or 3% simplified levy (small-scale). Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax: 7% of VAT. Ed
Night / Day CapNo nationally mandated day cap. Some Chengdu residential compounds prohibit STR entirely; others allow it with HOA approval. No published municipal da
Minimum StayNo national minimum stay defined specifically for STRs.
Permit FeeBusiness license: Free (national policy). Tourism registration/accommodation provider registration: fees set by Chengdu Bureau of Culture and Tourism
PenaltiesSame national framework as Shenzhen: operating without business license — CNY 1,000–CNY 100,000+ fine. PSB guest registration failure — fines for host
Primary Residence RequiredNo national primary-residence requirement. However, Chengdu residential compound rules widely restrict STR activity in residential zones. Many newer C
Occupancy LimitSet by fire safety certification and building occupancy permit per property. No single national STR-specific cap.
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Chengdu Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview

Chengdu Short-Term Rental Regulations Overview

Short-term rentals in Chengdu, Sichuan are allowed but subject to significant restrictions under local regulations as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes. Same national framework as Shenzhen with Sichuan provincial and Chengdu municipal additions. STR operators must: (1) Obtain a business license from Chengdu SAMR; (2) Register accommodation busine. The associated permit fees are Business license: Free (national policy). Tourism registration/accommodation provider registration: .

Tax Requirements for Airbnb Hosts in Chengdu

Short-term rental operators in Chengdu should be aware of these tax obligations: VAT (增值税): 6% for accommodation services (general taxpayer) or 3% simplified levy (small-scale). Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax: 7% of VAT. Education surcharge: 3% of VAT. Local Education surcharge: 2% of VAT. Individual Income Tax: 20% on re. Yes. Registration with Chengdu Municipal Tax Bureau (成都市税务局) / State Administration of Taxation. Housing Rental Regulations (Order No. 812) require re.

Hosting Rules and Restrictions in Chengdu

Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Chengdu include: Primary residence requirement: No national primary-residence requirement. However, Chengdu residential compound rules widely restrict STR activity in r. Rental day cap: No nationally mandated day cap. Some Chengdu residential compounds prohibit STR entirely; others allow it with HOA appro. Occupancy limit: Set by fire safety certification and building occupancy permit per property. No single national STR-specific cap.. Minimum stay: No national minimum stay defined specifically for STRs..

Zoning and Location Requirements in Chengdu

Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Chengdu: Commercial accommodation (tourism/STR) requires commercial-use property classification or designated mixed-use zoning. Chengdu residential zones (住宅) face restrictions. Chengdu's historic Old Town/Jin. Density rules: No explicit national or Chengdu municipal density quota found as of 2026-07-30. Effective density control via zoning.. Insurance: No explicit national STR insurance mandate. Fire safety compliance is mandatory. Third-party liabili.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Chengdu

Hosts who fail to comply with Chengdu's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Same national framework as Shenzhen: operating without business license — CNY 1,000–CNY 100,000+ fine. PSB guest registration failure — fines for host and tenant. Fire safety non-compliance — fines, c.

Platform Obligations in Chengdu

Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Chengdu: Same as all Chinese markets: platforms must comply with Cybersecurity Law (real-name verification), Anti-Money Laundering rules, and PSB guest-data reporting requirements. Under State Council Order No.

Full Regulatory Details

Regulatory Status
Restricted
License / Registration
Yes. Same national framework as Shenzhen with Sichuan provincial and Chengdu municipal additions. STR operators must: (1) Obtain a business license from Chengdu SAMR; (2) Register accommodation business with Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (成都市文化广电旅游局); (3) Obtain fire safety certification; (4) Register with PSB as accommodation provider and report all guests (foreign guests within 24 hours). Chengdu follows the national Homestay (民宿) Administration Measures. State Council Order No. 812 (Housing Rental Regulations, effective September 15, 2025) applies. National Order No. 812 specifically listed Chengdu as one of the primary cities targeted by the new rental market reform framework.
Tax Registration
Yes. Registration with Chengdu Municipal Tax Bureau (成都市税务局) / State Administration of Taxation. Housing Rental Regulations (Order No. 812) require rental contracts to be registered with the Chengdu Housing Administration Bureau (成都市房屋管理局).
Permit Fee
Business license: Free (national policy). Tourism registration/accommodation provider registration: fees set by Chengdu Bureau of Culture and Tourism — verify current schedule at official portal. Fire safety inspection fees vary by property size. Contract registration under Order No. 812: administrative fee (typically nominal, set by housing authority).
Primary Residence Rule
No national primary-residence requirement. However, Chengdu residential compound rules widely restrict STR activity in residential zones. Many newer Chengdu condominium complexes explicitly prohibit short-term rental in HOA agreements.
Night / Day Cap
No nationally mandated day cap. Some Chengdu residential compounds prohibit STR entirely; others allow it with HOA approval. No published municipal day-cap ordinance found as of 2026-07-30.
Occupancy Limit
Set by fire safety certification and building occupancy permit per property. No single national STR-specific cap.
Tax Rate
VAT (增值税): 6% for accommodation services (general taxpayer) or 3% simplified levy (small-scale). Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax: 7% of VAT. Education surcharge: 3% of VAT. Local Education surcharge: 2% of VAT. Individual Income Tax: 20% on rental income net of allowable deductions for individuals. Corporate Income Tax: 25% (standard) or 15% (high-tech enterprise qualification). Sichuan province does not impose additional provincial STR-specific tax above national rates. Total effective burden for small STR operators using simplified VAT typically 10%–15% of revenue.
Zoning Restrictions
Commercial accommodation (tourism/STR) requires commercial-use property classification or designated mixed-use zoning. Chengdu residential zones (住宅) face restrictions. Chengdu's historic Old Town/Jinli/Kuanzhai Alley areas may have additional heritage zone restrictions. Chengdu High-Tech Zone (高新区), Tianfu New Area, and other development zones have distinct zoning plans — verify with respective zone planning authority.
Minimum Stay
No national minimum stay defined specifically for STRs.
Density Rules
No explicit national or Chengdu municipal density quota found as of 2026-07-30. Effective density control via zoning.
Insurance Required
No explicit national STR insurance mandate. Fire safety compliance is mandatory. Third-party liability insurance strongly recommended and may be required by some residential compound management rules.
Platform Obligations
Same as all Chinese markets: platforms must comply with Cybersecurity Law (real-name verification), Anti-Money Laundering rules, and PSB guest-data reporting requirements. Under State Council Order No. 812 (effective September 15, 2025), rental contracts must be registered with local housing authority. Tujia (途家), Xiaozhu (小猪), and Meituan Minsu (美团民宿) are dominant platforms in Chengdu (Airbnb exited mainland China in 2022).
Compliance Notes
Chengdu is specifically named in State Council Order No. 812 (effective September 15, 2025) as one of the primary cities targeted by China's new national rental market reform framework, alongside Beijing and Chongqing. The reforms target urban state-owned land rental markets. Chengdu has one of China's fastest-growing STR markets driven by panda tourism, food tourism, and cultural attractions. Enforcement of STR regulations in Chengdu is primarily carried out through PSB accommodation registration, market supervision inspections, and residential compound management. The regulatory framework varies significantly across Chengdu's districts (Jinjiang, Qingyang, Wuhou, Chenghua, etc.).
Effective Date
Ministry of Culture and Tourism Homestay Measures: ongoing. State Council Order No. 812: September 15, 2025. Chengdu-specific implementing rules: issued by Chengdu Municipal Government per national framework.
Key Notes
Chengdu is a major domestic tourism hub (Giant Panda Base, Dujiangyan, Leshan Giant Buddha day trips). Domestic platforms (Tujia, Xiaozhu, Meituan Minsu, Tongcheng Travel) are the primary booking channels — Airbnb is not operational in mainland China. Foreign guest accommodation requires PSB registration within 24 hours — strictly enforced. Chengdu's dual international airport system (Tianfu + Shuangliu) makes it one of China's busiest travel hubs, driving year-round STR demand. Chengdu Tianfu New Area has specific investment zone rules that may create distinct STR operating environments.
Penalties
Same national framework as Shenzhen: operating without business license — CNY 1,000–CNY 100,000+ fine. PSB guest registration failure — fines for host and tenant. Fire safety non-compliance — fines, closure, criminal liability. Tax evasion — surcharges, up to 5x unpaid tax penalty, possible criminal prosecution under Chinese Criminal Law.
Additional Context
Chengdu is also subject to State Council Order No. 812 urban rental reforms specifically addressing housing stock in major cities. The reforms are intended to stabilize the rental market, increase housing supply through converting vacant commercial units, and strengthen tenant protections — this has indirect implications for STR operators competing in the same residential housing market. Chengdu's large expat and digital nomad community creates demand for medium-term furnished rentals that straddle the STR/LTR boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Chengdu?

Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Chengdu but subject to restrictions. Hosts must comply with local permit requirements and zoning rules. Chengdu is specifically named in State Council Order No. 812 (effective September 15, 2025) as one of the primary cities targeted by China's new national rental market reform framework, alongside Beij

Do you need a permit for Airbnb in Chengdu?

Yes. Chengdu requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes. Same national framework as Shenzhen with Sichuan provincial and Chengdu municipal additions. STR operators must: (1) Obtain a business license from Chengdu SAMR; (2) Register accommodation business with Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (成都市文化广电旅游局); (3) Obtain fire safety certifi.

What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Chengdu?

Short-term rental hosts in Chengdu are subject to the following tax obligations: VAT (增值税): 6% for accommodation services (general taxpayer) or 3% simplified levy (small-scale). Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax: 7% of VAT. Education surcharge: 3% of VAT. Local Education surcharge: 2% of VAT. Individual Income Tax: 20% on rental income net of allowable deductions for indivi.

What are the penalties for illegal Airbnb hosting in Chengdu?

Hosts who operate without proper permits in Chengdu may face enforcement. Same national framework as Shenzhen: operating without business license — CNY 1,000–CNY 100,000+ fine. PSB guest registration failure — fines for host and tenant. Fire safety non-compliance — fines, closure, criminal liability. Tax evasion — surcharg.

What are the key STR compliance requirements in Chengdu?

Chengdu is a major domestic tourism hub (Giant Panda Base, Dujiangyan, Leshan Giant Buddha day trips). Domestic platforms (Tujia, Xiaozhu, Meituan Minsu, Tongcheng Travel) are the primary booking channels — Airbnb is not operational in mainland China. Foreign guest accommodation requires PSB registration within 24 hours — strictly enforced. Chengdu's dual international airport system (Tianfu + Shu

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