LawfulStay
← Back to Database

Krakow

Lesser Poland · Poland
Active
Last updated: 2026-07-08  ·  Last verified: 2026-07-08  ·  Region: International

At a Glance — Krakow Airbnb & STR Rules

RuleDetails
Regulatory StatusPermitted with registration
Permit / License RequiredYes — hosts must register their STR property in the municipal register of non-hotel accommodation facilities (eKON database), maintained by the Mayor
Tax RateIncome tax (lump-sum / ryczałt regime, mandatory for private rental income in 2026): 8.5% on annual revenue up to PLN 100,000; 12.5% on revenue above
Night / Day CapNone currently in force in Kraków. Day-cap proposals have been debated nationally (referencing 90-day models used in Amsterdam/Paris); no cap has been
Minimum StayUnknown — no minimum-stay requirement documented at the Kraków city level.
Permit FeeMunicipal accommodation registration via eKON is free of charge. No separate STR permit fee currently documented at the city level. National implement
PenaltiesCurrent Kraków-level penalties for failure to register are not well-documented in available sources. Under the proposed national Hotel Services Act, '
Primary Residence RequiredNo — there is no primary-residence requirement under current Kraków or national rules. However, proposed Polish national draft legislation and Poland
Occupancy LimitUnknown — no city-specific occupancy cap documented in available sources.
Browse all 7 STR regulations in Poland →

Krakow Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview

Krakow Short-Term Rental Regulations Overview

Short-term rental operations in Krakow, Lesser Poland 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 register their STR property in the municipal register of non-hotel accommodation facilities (eKON database), maintained by the Mayor of the City of Kraków. As of EU Regulation 2024/10. The associated permit fees are Municipal accommodation registration via eKON is free of charge. No separate STR permit fee currentl.

Tax Requirements for Airbnb Hosts in Krakow

Short-term rental operators in Krakow should be aware of these tax obligations: Income tax (lump-sum / ryczałt regime, mandatory for private rental income in 2026): 8.5% on annual revenue up to PLN 100,000; 12.5% on revenue above PLN 100,000. Alternative: progressive PIT scale (12%/32%) or 19% flat tax if activity is registered . Yes — hosts must register for income tax purposes. If rental income crosses the VAT threshold or the activity is classified as a business, VAT registr.

Hosting Rules and Restrictions in Krakow

Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Krakow include: Primary residence requirement: No — there is no primary-residence requirement under current Kraków or national rules. However, proposed Polish national. Rental day cap: None currently in force in Kraków. Day-cap proposals have been debated nationally (referencing 90-day models used in Ams. Occupancy limit: Unknown — no city-specific occupancy cap documented in available sources.. Minimum stay: Unknown — no minimum-stay requirement documented at the Kraków city level..

Zoning and Location Requirements in Krakow

Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Krakow: Kraków is a UNESCO World Heritage city; stricter heritage-protection and zoning rules apply in the Old Town and historically significant districts, potentially requiring special permissions to operate. Density rules: None currently enacted. Proposed Polish national draft law would allow municipal councils to designate zones where STR is prohibited, effectively crea. Insurance: Not legally mandated at national or Kraków city level. Liability insurance is strongly recommended; .

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Krakow

Hosts who fail to comply with Krakow's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Current Kraków-level penalties for failure to register are not well-documented in available sources. Under the proposed national Hotel Services Act, 'high penalties' for failing to register are planne.

Platform Obligations in Krakow

Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Krakow: Under EU Regulation 2024/1028 (applied from 20 May 2026), platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com must collect, verify, and share STR data (host identity, listing details, rental activity) with natio.

Full Regulatory Details

Regulatory Status
Active
License / Registration
Yes — hosts must register their STR property in the municipal register of non-hotel accommodation facilities (eKON database), maintained by the Mayor of the City of Kraków. As of EU Regulation 2024/1028 (in force 20 May 2026), a unique registration number must be obtained and displayed on all listings; publishing without a registration number will be prohibited under upcoming national implementing legislation.
Tax Registration
Yes — hosts must register for income tax purposes. If rental income crosses the VAT threshold or the activity is classified as a business, VAT registration (VAT-R form) is also required. Platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com) are required under EU/national rules to share host data with Polish tax authorities.
Permit Fee
Municipal accommodation registration via eKON is free of charge. No separate STR permit fee currently documented at the city level. National implementing legislation (pending) may introduce additional fees.
Primary Residence Rule
No — there is no primary-residence requirement under current Kraków or national rules. However, proposed Polish national draft legislation and Poland 2050 party proposals would grant communities/housing associations the right to prohibit or restrict STR in their buildings regardless of residency status.
Night / Day Cap
None currently in force in Kraków. Day-cap proposals have been debated nationally (referencing 90-day models used in Amsterdam/Paris); no cap has been enacted at city or national level as of 2026-07-08.
Occupancy Limit
Unknown — no city-specific occupancy cap documented in available sources.
Tax Rate
Income tax (lump-sum / ryczałt regime, mandatory for private rental income in 2026): 8.5% on annual revenue up to PLN 100,000; 12.5% on revenue above PLN 100,000. Alternative: progressive PIT scale (12%/32%) or 19% flat tax if activity is registered as a business. VAT: 8% reduced rate applies to lodging/hotel services where applicable; standard rate is 23%. Local tourist/climate tax: historically discussed but reported as abolished/not currently levied in Kraków.
Zoning Restrictions
Kraków is a UNESCO World Heritage city; stricter heritage-protection and zoning rules apply in the Old Town and historically significant districts, potentially requiring special permissions to operate STRs in protected areas. Municipal councils may in future designate STR-prohibited zones under proposed national legislation. No blanket city-wide zoning ban is currently in force.
Minimum Stay
Unknown — no minimum-stay requirement documented at the Kraków city level.
Density Rules
None currently enacted. Proposed Polish national draft law would allow municipal councils to designate zones where STR is prohibited, effectively creating density controls, but this has not yet been adopted into law.
Insurance Required
Not legally mandated at national or Kraków city level. Liability insurance is strongly recommended; some municipalities in high-traffic tourist areas may informally require it. No Kraków-specific insurance mandate found in available sources.
Platform Obligations
Under EU Regulation 2024/1028 (applied from 20 May 2026), platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com must collect, verify, and share STR data (host identity, listing details, rental activity) with national/local authorities. In Kraków and Warsaw, local councils specifically require platforms to share data on listed properties and guest numbers. Poland's Ministry of Sport and Tourism is preparing national implementing legislation including a ban on publishing listings without a valid registration number.
Compliance Notes
As of end-March 2026, only 2,712 facilities were registered in Kraków's eKON database (37,327 beds total), while Airbnb alone lists ~5,750–7,280 active properties — indicating widespread non-compliance with registration obligations. Enforcement has historically been lax. EU Regulation 2024/1028 entered into force on 20 May 2026, triggering new platform data-sharing obligations and pushing Poland to finalise national STR legislation. The Ministry of Sport and Tourism's draft Hotel Services Act (stricter than EU baseline) proposes a central national STR register, mandatory unique registration numbers, a ban on unlicensed online listings, and high penalties; this bill is still in legislative process as of mid-2026. Tax audits of STR income are being intensified, with tax offices gaining direct data access from booking platforms.
Effective Date
Local eKON registration obligation: pre-existing (ongoing). EU Regulation 2024/1028 data-sharing rules: 20 May 2026. National implementing legislation: pending (target: aligned with EU May 2026 deadline, but not yet enacted as of 2026-07-08).
Key Notes
1) Kraków has been one of Poland's most vocal cities lobbying for stricter STR regulation, driven by housing pressure and overtourism. 2) The EU STR Regulation 2024/1028 is now in force and directly applies to platforms operating in Poland. 3) Poland's proposed Hotel Services Act is expected to introduce a central register, unique property numbers, platform delisting for non-compliant hosts, and significant fines — but is not yet law. 4) A tourist-fee bill (proposed rate PLN ~7.85/night linked to minimum wage) is under parliamentary committee review but not yet enacted for Kraków. 5) Registration in eKON is free; the vast majority of active listings currently operate without official registration.
Penalties
Current Kraków-level penalties for failure to register are not well-documented in available sources. Under the proposed national Hotel Services Act, 'high penalties' for failing to register are planned (specific amounts not yet legislated as of mid-2026). EU Regulation 2024/1028 requires Poland to determine penalties for platforms and hosts breaking the new rules by 20 May 2026; Poland's specific penalty schedule under this regulation is still being established through the national implementing act.
Additional Context
Kraków is one of Poland's top tourist destinations with an estimated 5,750–7,280 active STR listings, making it one of the largest STR markets in the country. The city hosted a June 2025 seminar at Krzysztofory Palace on STR regulation, bringing in Amsterdam, Paris, and Vienna as case studies. Warsaw, Wrocław, Kraków, Poznań, and the Tri-City together account for roughly half of all STRs in Poland. National estimates place total Polish STR units at 40,000–100,000. Housing communities and some developers are independently introducing STR restrictions in their own building regulations.
Sources
https://ekon.um.krakow.pl
1) Kraków City Official Portal (convention.krakow.pl) — 'Kraków Leads the Way in Short-Term Rental Regulation' & 'New Regulations on Short-Term Rentals — Obligations for Owners' (May 2026)
2) EU Regulation 2024/1028 summary, EUR-Lex
3) LodgeCompliance (lodgecompliance.com) — Poland STR Guide
4) Airbtics (airbtics.com) — Airbnb Rules in Kraków, Poland
5) AirROI (airroi.com) — Kraków STR Market Report 2026
6) GlobalPropertyGuide (globalpropertyguide.com) — Property-Related Taxes in Poland 2026
7) Numeral (numeral.com) — Poland VAT Rates 2026
8) orla.fm — Poland draft Hotel Services Act (July 2026)
9) Architekturaibiznes.pl — STR regulation and tourist fee article (Feb 2026)
10) BillBerry Apartments (billberry-apartments.pl) — STR legal changes 2025.
📋 Apply / Register with the Official Authority

Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.

Official Source ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Krakow?

Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Krakow with proper registration and permits. As of end-March 2026, only 2,712 facilities were registered in Kraków's eKON database (37,327 beds total), while Airbnb alone lists ~5,750–7,280 active properties — indicating widespread non-complianc

Do you need a permit for Airbnb in Krakow?

Yes. Krakow requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes — hosts must register their STR property in the municipal register of non-hotel accommodation facilities (eKON database), maintained by the Mayor of the City of Kraków. As of EU Regulation 2024/1028 (in force 20 May 2026), a unique registration number must be obtained and displayed on all listin.

What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Krakow?

Short-term rental hosts in Krakow are subject to the following tax obligations: Income tax (lump-sum / ryczałt regime, mandatory for private rental income in 2026): 8.5% on annual revenue up to PLN 100,000; 12.5% on revenue above PLN 100,000. Alternative: progressive PIT scale (12%/32%) or 19% flat tax if activity is registered as a business. VAT: 8% reduced rate applies to lod.

What are the penalties for illegal Airbnb hosting in Krakow?

Hosts who operate without proper permits in Krakow may face enforcement. Current Kraków-level penalties for failure to register are not well-documented in available sources. Under the proposed national Hotel Services Act, 'high penalties' for failing to register are planned (specific amounts not yet legislated as of mid-2.

What are the key STR compliance requirements in Krakow?

1) Kraków has been one of Poland's most vocal cities lobbying for stricter STR regulation, driven by housing pressure and overtourism. 2) The EU STR Regulation 2024/1028 is now in force and directly applies to platforms operating in Poland. 3) Poland's proposed Hotel Services Act is expected to introduce a central register, unique property numbers, platform delisting for non-compliant hosts, and s

Search 1,026+ STR Jurisdictions

LawfulStay tracks STR regulations across 1,026+ cities & countries on 6 continents, updated daily.

View in Full Database →