Converting a home into a tourist accommodation in Madrid is an excellent business opportunity, but the City Council and the Community of Madrid have recently tightened the rules to balance tourism with neighborhood coexistence, which raises the question: How to register a tourist accommodation in Madrid?
Here is a step-by-step guide to legalize your tourist rental home (VUT) in 2026.
Prerequisites: How to register a tourist accommodation in Madrid?
Before carrying out any procedure, you must verify that the property complies with the technical habitability regulations:
- Certificate of Habitability or First Occupancy License: It is the basic document that certifies that the space is suitable for living.
- Minimum dimensions: The house must have at least one kitchen, a living-dining room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. If it is a studio, the living-dining-kitchen area must have a minimum size determined by the General Urban Development Plan (PGOU).
- Civil Liability Insurance: It is mandatory to purchase a policy that covers damages to third parties and the community.
The critical step: The Municipal Urban Planning License
Unlike a few years ago, it is no longer enough to inform the Community. In Madrid city, the Plan Especial de Hospedaje (PEH) sets the rules:
- Independent Access: In most of the center (Zone 1 and 2), the accommodation is required to have an independent access separate from the entrance used by the other residents (its own doorway).
- Land Use: You must request an Urban Suitability Report to confirm that the use of “lodging” is allowed in your building.
Important note: Many homeowners’ associations have banned VUTs in their bylaws. Check the minutes of your community; if 75% of the owners voted against it, you will not be able to register it.
Procedure before the Community of Madrid
Yes: in the Community of Madrid, the registration of a dwelling for tourist use is processed through a declaración responsable before the Community of Madrid, and with it, the dwelling is registered in the regional registry; furthermore, in the municipality of Madrid, a municipal urban activity and functioning license is required.
Steps
- Check that the property can be used for tourist purposes and that it complies with urban planning, safety, accessibility, health, environmental, and condominium regulations.
- Get the CIVUT (Certificate of Suitability for Tourist Use Housing) issued by a competent technician.
- Gather the basic documentation: title or document proving the availability of the property, liability insurance, and, if applicable, the articles of incorporation of the company.
- Check if the homeowners’ association allows the activity and keep the corresponding certificate or supporting document.
- If the property is in the municipality of Madrid, first process the urban activity and operation license at the City Council.
- Submit the responsible declaration of commencement of activity at the headquarters of the Community of Madrid, electronically or in person if applicable.
- Once submitted, the administration registers the housing in the Register of Companies and Tourist Activities of the Community of Madrid.
Key documents
The headquarters of the Community of Madrid itself indicates that you must have available to the Administration, among others, the document of premises availability, the civil liability insurance, the CIVUT, and the accreditation that the homeowners’ association has not prohibited the activity.
Important
The regional procedure does not replace municipal authorizations when they are required; in the municipality of Madrid, a municipal urban planning license is also required, while in other municipalities the regulations of the corresponding town hall must be reviewed.
Presentation form
The application can be submitted digitally with an electronically recognized signature in the Community of Madrid, or in person using a downloaded and signed form along with the documentation.
In addition to how to register a tourist accommodation in Madrid, it is important to take into account the traveler registration obligations of SES HOSPEDAJES and the annual NRUA registration obligations to avoid problems with fines or the removal of the establishment’s advertisements. To simplify this process, use our Traveler Registration application.
