| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Permitted with registration |
| Permit / License Required | Varies by jurisdiction. The Caribbean is not a single nation; each island/territory has its own STR licensing regime. Generally: Sint Maarten requires |
| Tax Rate | Varies significantly by jurisdiction. Representative examples: Sint Maarten: 5% Room Tax + 5% BBO Turnover Tax; Jamaica: 15% GCT (General Consumption |
| Night / Day Cap | Varies by jurisdiction. Most Caribbean territories do not impose annual night caps on STRs. No pan-Caribbean rental day cap exists. |
| Minimum Stay | Varies by jurisdiction. Most Caribbean territories impose no minimum stay requirement for STRs. Some may require minimum stays linked to immigration o |
| Permit Fee | Varies by jurisdiction. Licence/registration fees, tourism authority fees, and annual renewal costs differ across each Caribbean territory. Ranges fro |
| Penalties | Varies by jurisdiction. Operating without a licence or failing to remit tourism/room taxes exposes operators to fines, back-tax assessments, and poten |
| Primary Residence Required | Generally No across most Caribbean jurisdictions. Most islands permit both primary and investment properties to operate as STRs, though some may have |
| Occupancy Limit | Varies by jurisdiction. Most territories apply building code or fire safety capacity limits rather than specific STR occupancy statutes. No pan-Caribb |
Short-term rental operations in Caribbean Region (National) are permitted under an active regulatory framework as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Varies by jurisdiction. The Caribbean is not a single nation; each island/territory has its own STR licensing regime. Generally: Sint Maarten requires a DEL business licence; Jamaica requires Tourism . The associated permit fees are Varies by jurisdiction. Licence/registration fees, tourism authority fees, and annual renewal costs .
Short-term rental operators in Caribbean Region (National) should be aware of these tax obligations: Varies significantly by jurisdiction. Representative examples: Sint Maarten: 5% Room Tax + 5% BBO Turnover Tax; Jamaica: 15% GCT (General Consumption Tax) + 10% accommodation tax for registered properties; Barbados: 7.5% VAT + 2.5% tourism levy; Caym.
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Caribbean Region (National) include: Primary residence requirement: Generally No across most Caribbean jurisdictions. Most islands permit both primary and investment properties to operate . Rental day cap: Varies by jurisdiction. Most Caribbean territories do not impose annual night caps on STRs. No pan-Caribbean rental day . Occupancy limit: Varies by jurisdiction. Most territories apply building code or fire safety capacity limits rather than specific STR occ. Minimum stay: Varies by jurisdiction. Most Caribbean territories impose no minimum stay requirement for STRs. Some may require minimum.
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Caribbean Region (National): Varies by jurisdiction. Many Caribbean territories restrict STRs to commercially or tourism-zoned areas, or require properties to be in designated resort zones. Specific rules differ island by island.. Density rules: Varies by jurisdiction. No Caribbean-wide density rules. A small number of territories with high tourism pressure may apply informal density considera. Insurance: Varies by jurisdiction. Some territories (e.g., Jamaica via TPDCo registration) require proof of lia.
Hosts who fail to comply with Caribbean Region (National)'s short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Varies by jurisdiction. Operating without a licence or failing to remit tourism/room taxes exposes operators to fines, back-tax assessments, and potential closure. Specific amounts set by each nationa.
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Caribbean Region (National): Varies by jurisdiction. Several Caribbean territories are increasingly requiring platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com) to collect and remit accommodation taxes on behalf of hosts. Examples: Airbnb col.
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Caribbean Region (National) with proper registration and permits. Page exists; detailed research pending.
Yes. Caribbean Region (National) requires the following for short-term rental operation: Varies by jurisdiction. The Caribbean is not a single nation; each island/territory has its own STR licensing regime. Generally: Sint Maarten requires a DEL business licence; Jamaica requires Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) registration; Barbados requires a Tourism Authority licence; Tri.
Short-term rental hosts in Caribbean Region (National) are subject to the following tax obligations: Varies significantly by jurisdiction. Representative examples: Sint Maarten: 5% Room Tax + 5% BBO Turnover Tax; Jamaica: 15% GCT (General Consumption Tax) + 10% accommodation tax for registered properties; Barbados: 7.5% VAT + 2.5% tourism levy; Cayman Islands: 13% tourism accommodation tax; Aruba: .
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Caribbean Region (National) may face enforcement. Varies by jurisdiction. Operating without a licence or failing to remit tourism/room taxes exposes operators to fines, back-tax assessments, and potential closure. Specific amounts set by each national/territorial tax authority..
LawfulStay tracks STR regulations across 1,026+ cities & countries on 6 continents, updated daily.
View in Full Database →