For any owner or manager, understanding the regulatory hierarchy is the difference between a thriving business and a fine of up to 30,000 euros. Currently, the legal framework is divided into three levels of mandatory compliance. Vacation rental laws are established by the development laws of the autonomous communities; we explain everything you need to know.
The State Level: Security and Transparency
Although tourism responsibilities have been transferred to the autonomous communities, the State controls two critical pillars that affect everyone equally:
- SES.HOSPEDAJES (Royal Decree 933/2021): After the end of the extensions, the new system for traveler registration is fully mandatory. The 9 basic data points are no longer enough; now it is required to communicate up to 21 fields of information (including payment methods and contact details) within a maximum period of 24 hours after the guest’s arrival. Automate the entry reports with Registro Parte Viajeros and use our online check-in service by sending your guests the link via Whatsapp or by whichever method is most convenient for you.
- Digital One-Stop Window and NRU: Since July 2025, it is impossible to advertise on platforms such as Airbnb or Booking without the Unique Registration Number (NRU). This code allows the Treasury and security authorities to cross-check data in real time. These legal obligations are set out in Order VAU/1560/2025, consult our complete guide and use our services to comply with the new obligations by February 2026 before it is too late.
The Regional Level: The “Name” of your Activity
Each autonomous community defines what is (and what is not) a tourist accommodation. The differences in acronyms and requirements are notable; each autonomous community has its own vacation rental laws and tourist regulations related to licenses, and some even have their own reporting registry:
| Community | Main Acronym | Highlighted Requirement in 2026 |
| Andalusia | VFT / VUT | Obligation of air conditioning by rooms and registration of professional managers. The Decreto 31/2024 related to licenses. |
| Catalonia | HUT | Licenses limited by Decree Law 3/2023; strong municipal control and high tourist taxes. Traveler registration with the Mossos d’Esquadra. |
| C. Valenciana | VUT | The Decreto-ley 9/2024 establishes the mandatory classification and requirement of a prior urban compatibility certificate. |
| Madrid | VUT | Decree 79/2014 establishes the requirements for an Endorsed Plan and independent access in many cases according to the city council. |
| Canary Islands | VV | Recent regulations to balance vacation rentals with the right to housing. |
The Local Level: The Neighbor as “Judge”
The big news this year is the weight of the Horizontal Property Law (LPH). After the latest reforms:
- 3/5 vote: Homeowner associations can ban new tourist apartments or increase their community fee by up to 20% if they have a majority of three-fifths of the participation quotas.
- Municipalities: Many capitals (such as San Sebastián, Málaga, or Palma) apply license moratoriums in “saturated zones,” which means that although the CCAA allows the activity, the municipality can deny it due to land use.
How to get everything done without dying trying?
For your accommodation to be legal in 2026, you must follow this logical order of action:
- Check the Statutes: Make sure your neighborhood community has not prohibited the activity.
- Urban Planning Certificate: Ask the city council for confirmation that the property can be used for tourist purposes.
- Regional Registration: Get your license from the corresponding Autonomous Community.
- Registration in SES.HOSPEDAJES: With your license, register on the Ministry of the Interior’s platform for the submission of entry reports.
- Single Window (NRU): Link your regional license to obtain your national digital identifier before publishing on portals.
Safety note: Sending the traveler report can no longer be manual or on paper if you want to avoid errors. Digital integration with SES.HOSPEDAJES is now an operational necessity.
