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This article provides a general overview on regional laws and regulations that may affect hosts in Catalonia. Besides these laws, municipalities may have approved zoning regulations and/or restrictions that can impact your activity. You are required to make sure that you follow the laws and regulations that may apply to your specific circumstances and locality.
The information contained in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal, tax, or professional advice of any kind. While we strive to ensure that the content is accurate and up to date, this article is not exhaustive and may not reflect the most recent developments, changes in regulations, or interpretations. We encourage you to conduct your own independent research and to verify any information with official or authoritative sources before making decisions based on the content provided herein. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information, and we expressly disclaim any liability arising from its use. You should consult with a qualified legal, tax, or other professional advisor regarding your specific circumstances before taking or refraining from any action based on this information.
The Regional Government of Catalonia has specific regulations for tourist accommodations. According to the regional Decree on the matter, “tourist accommodations” are understood to be those rented out directly or indirectly, to third parties, in exchange for a price, for a temporary stay, and under conditions of immediate availability.
Tourist accommodations will need to be offered as an entire place (single unit).
All tourist accommodations rented out for thirty-one (31) days or less for tourist purposes must comply with the obligations and requirements foreseen in the regulation mentioned above. Otherwise, it will fall under a different category of accommodation, such as a “seasonal rental.”
Also, Catalonia regulation foresees the “shared houses” (“Llars compartides”), understood as a tourist accommodation, as defined above, that constitutes the primary and actual residence of the host (who is required to live in the property while rented out).
In order to rent out a shared house, you may need to comply with regional and local requirements or provide a specific license.
In Catalonia, you need to register any accommodation you plan to offer as a tourist accommodation, either as an entire place or as a shared house, within the Tourism Register of Catalonia. As part of the process, you will first need to submit a statement of responsibility to the General Directory of Tourism that declares compliance with current regulations and any other requirements foreseen at regional and local levels.
To do so, you will need to fill an online form that you can access at the following links, depending on whether you wish to offer your accommodation as an entire place, or as a shared house. Please note that you will be required to provide a valid identification, either with a digital certificate or IDCATMobil, and to provide the following information:
Also, bear in mind that you must have the following documents available in the event of an inspection by the relevant authorities:
After you complete the registration process successfully, a registration number will be assigned to your tourist accommodation (Example: HUTB000000).
To learn more about specific requirements, obligations, or any other relevant topics you should be aware of as a host, you can review Airbnb’s Frequently Asked Questions for Catalonia, or the Frequently Asked Questions for tourist accommodations and shared houses provided by the Regional Government of Catalonia.
In order to host in Spain, you may also have the obligation to obtain a national registration number within the Property Registry and display it when listing your properties on Airbnb.
Review this article for further information on your national registration obligations and other relevant topics.
Catalonia requires you to display your registration number on any type of advertisement for your tourist accommodation, including your Airbnb. There’s a field that you can use to include your registration number in the Listing details.
To learn more about how Catalonia tourist accommodations regulations may be applicable to you or to your property, you can contact the Territorial Delegation of Enterprise and Labour.