Global Regulatory Notes (3)

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town's new bylaw will reclassify properties predominantly used for short-term rentals as commercial accommodation, imposing hotel-level municipal property taxes.

Once implemented, property owners will face substantially higher tax bills, reshaping Cape Town's vacation rental market while increasing municipal revenue.

Fremantle, Australia

Fremantle enacted Amendment No. 88 and Local Planning Policy 2.27, mandating planning approvals for non-hosted short-term rentals operating beyond 90 days per year. These controls synchronize with Western Australia's broader accommodation reforms.

The 90-day threshold distinguishes casual home-sharing from commercial vacation rental operations, requiring formal planning permission for properties exceeding this limit to address neighborhood and housing market concerns.

Greece

The Greek government established a 2026 moratorium blocking new short-term rental registrations (AMA) throughout central Athens and Thessaloniki neighborhoods. Current licenses lose transferability during property sales, gifts, or inheritance, blocking speculation and accumulation.

Authorities may extend restrictions to other tourist-heavy regions following policy review.

Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) on Threads

Greece is tightening the screws on short-term rentals like Airbnb to combat soaring rents and housing shortages for locals. The government has extended its freeze on new short-term rental permits (known as AMA numbers from the AADE registry) in central Athens through the end of 2026—and is rolling out similar restrictions to five high-pressure tourist hotspots. Read which are the affected areas and key changes via the link in our bio. #Greece #Airbnb #ShortermRentals #GreeceTravel

Threads

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto has approved a dramatically restructured accommodation tax implementing tiered rates from ¥200 to ¥10,000 per night, taking effect March 1, 2026. The graduated levy system represents a substantial shift from previous flat-rate taxation across all lodging types.

The tiered approach ensures luxury accommodations contribute proportionally more, supporting the city's efforts to sustain its UNESCO heritage sites amid record visitor numbers.

Meaford, Canada

Meaford Council greenlit a short-term rental regulation initiative to create policies governing vacation properties.

Council's approval launches development of detailed regulations potentially encompassing registration requirements, operational guidelines, and enforcement mechanisms.

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

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Playa del Carmen initiated a staged safety enforcement program offering voluntary Civil Protection inspections assessing gas, fire, and structural compliance. Hosts can rectify deficiencies during this grace period before penalties commence.

The voluntary period signals the city's intent to eventually mandate hotel-level safety standards for all short-term rentals, with mandatory enforcement and fines to follow.

Rome, Italy

Rome's municipal government is drafting comprehensive regulations to restrict short-term rentals.

Proposed measures include planning restrictions based on neighborhood saturation levels, heavier IMU property taxation for vacation rentals, and an annual cap on rental nights per property.

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Solihull, England

Councillors in Solihull, West Midlands, rejected a motion supporting visitor levies under UK proposals for mayoral tourism taxes on overnight stays. They cited concerns about visitor affordability, hospitality sector damage, and inequitable revenue distribution despite Solihull's tourism contributions.

The decision highlights England's divided stance on tourism taxation, contrasting sharply with Scottish cities like Edinburgh and Stirling that are implementing visitor levies, revealing regional differences in UK tourism tax policy approaches.

Spain

As of January 2026, Spain implemented nationwide enforcement requiring all short-term rental properties to hold valid Habitation Licences. Airbnb and competing platforms began actively removing non-compliant listings while municipal authorities increased fine enforcement for properties lacking proper Licencia de Ocupación documentation.

Qualified architects must conduct on-site surveys certifying properties meet current regional and local standards before councils issue certificates.

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