| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Permitted with registration |
| Permit / License Required | Yes. Hosts must obtain: (1) Registro Único de Turismo (RUT) — free, via siturin.turismo.gob.ec; (2) Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC) — active ta |
| Tax Rate | 12% IVA (VAT) on rentals to Ecuadorian nationals; 0% IVA for foreign/international guests; 8% reduced IVA during national holidays. Income subject to |
| Night / Day Cap | None specified at national or Quito municipal level as of July 2026. |
| Minimum Stay | No minimum stay mandated at city or national level. |
| Permit Fee | RUT registration is free of charge. LUAE fee varies by municipality (Quito municipal fee schedules apply). Tourism loans of up to USD 20,000 at 5% int |
| Penalties | Financial sanctions for non-compliance; SRI can pursue back-taxes on unregistered rental income. Removal of the original closure-during-inspection pro |
| Primary Residence Required | Not explicitly mandated under Acuerdo Ministerial 2023-011, but land-use (Uso de Suelo) zoning and condominium internal regulations may restrict non-p |
| Occupancy Limit | Not specified in national regulation. Condominium internal rules (Reglamento de Copropiedad) may impose limits. |
Short-term rental operations in Quito, Pichincha are permitted under an active regulatory framework as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes. Hosts must obtain: (1) Registro Único de Turismo (RUT) — free, via siturin.turismo.gob.ec; (2) Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC) — active taxpayer ID; (3) Licencia Única de Actividad Económi. The associated permit fees are RUT registration is free of charge. LUAE fee varies by municipality (Quito municipal fee schedules a.
Short-term rental operators in Quito should be aware of these tax obligations: 12% IVA (VAT) on rentals to Ecuadorian nationals; 0% IVA for foreign/international guests; 8% reduced IVA during national holidays. Income subject to standard Impuesto a la Renta rates. 1% municipal tax on total income (Patente Municipal) may apply.. Yes. RUC registration with the Servicio de Rentas Internas (SRI) is mandatory before commencing STR operations..
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Quito include: Primary residence requirement: Not explicitly mandated under Acuerdo Ministerial 2023-011, but land-use (Uso de Suelo) zoning and condominium internal . Rental day cap: None specified at national or Quito municipal level as of July 2026.. Occupancy limit: Not specified in national regulation. Condominium internal rules (Reglamento de Copropiedad) may impose limits.. Minimum stay: No minimum stay mandated at city or national level..
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Quito: Yes. Not all residential zones permit commercial or tourist activity. Uso de Suelo must be verified per property address with the Municipio de Quito (DMQ). Condominium bylaws may add further restricti. Density rules: None enacted at city level as of July 2026. No cap on number of STR licenses per host or per building published.. Insurance: Not explicitly required under Acuerdo Ministerial 2023-011, though general civil liability coverage .
Hosts who fail to comply with Quito's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Financial sanctions for non-compliance; SRI can pursue back-taxes on unregistered rental income. Removal of the original closure-during-inspection provision means no automatic shutdown, but tax penalt.
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Quito: Platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, etc.) increasingly monitored by SRI for tax compliance. As of 2026, approximately 42,000 listings exist but only ~4,510 hosts had formally registered by end-2024,.
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Quito with proper registration and permits. Acuerdo Ministerial Nro. 2023-011 (effective 22 Sep 2023, with 2024 updates) governs STR in residential properties on mainland Ecuador (separate regime for Galápagos). Enforcement intensified in 2025–
Yes. Quito requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes. Hosts must obtain: (1) Registro Único de Turismo (RUT) — free, via siturin.turismo.gob.ec; (2) Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC) — active taxpayer ID; (3) Licencia Única de Actividad Económica (LUAE) from the Municipio de Quito..
Short-term rental hosts in Quito are subject to the following tax obligations: 12% IVA (VAT) on rentals to Ecuadorian nationals; 0% IVA for foreign/international guests; 8% reduced IVA during national holidays. Income subject to standard Impuesto a la Renta rates. 1% municipal tax on total income (Patente Municipal) may apply..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Quito may face enforcement. Financial sanctions for non-compliance; SRI can pursue back-taxes on unregistered rental income. Removal of the original closure-during-inspection provision means no automatic shutdown, but tax penalties and fines apply..
Ecuador's STR regulation is national-level but light-touch at city level. Quito has not enacted additional city-specific ordinances. Informality remains high (~42,000 listings vs. ~4,510 registered). SRI surveillance of digital platform income is increasing as of 2025–2026.
LawfulStay tracks STR regulations across 1,026+ cities & countries on 6 continents, updated daily.
View in Full Database →