Global Regulatory Notes (6)

🇨🇦 Canada

London, ON

The City of London is proposing to raise STR first-offence fines from $500 to $1,500 for hosts and to $10,000 for companies listing unlicensed properties. A one-time $351 inspection fee would be added to the existing $196 annual licence.

Staff say the current fines are treated as a cost of doing business rather than a deterrent.

“No person shall carry on or engage in any business… unless the person holds a current valid licence issued under this By-law.”
(City of London, Business Licensing By-law L.-131-16)

West Vancouver, BC

A proposed enforcement framework in West Vancouver would revoke short-term rental licences after three bylaw notices within 365 days.

Unlicensed operators face an accelerated path to provincial delisting from platforms including Airbnb and Vrbo. A $150 re-inspection fee would apply to follow-up inspections after a violation. All measures remain at the proposal stage.

🇫🇷 Nice, France

Furnished tourist rental permits in Nice are capped at 671 across its four highest-demand districts for 2025 with applications accepted in February only.

Primary residences are now limited to 90 nights per year down from 120. National registration is required by May 20 and fines run from €10,000 for missing registration to €50,000 for unauthorized change-of-use.

French government guidance on furnished tourist rentals
(rules, registration, and obligations)

Learn more

🇪🇸 Canary Islands, Spain

The Canary Islands Holiday Rental Association (ASCAV) has asked the Spanish Ombudsman to file a constitutional appeal against Law 6/2025, which caps vacation rentals at 10% of dwellings per municipality, freezes new licences pending local zoning plans, and requires community owner approval.

ASCAV argues the law violates property rights and encroaches on state and municipal powers. Parallel appeals are filed with the Canary Islands High Court.

🇩🇪 Stuttgart, Germany

Stuttgart city council approved a flat €3 per-person, per-night overnight tax effective July 1, 2026, applying to hotels and STR platforms alike. Operators remit quarterly. Minors and school groups are exempt.

The city projects €10 million in annual revenue from 2027.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

The UK government has replaced its temporary pandemic-era business rates relief with a permanently lower multiplier for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, taking effect April 2026.

STR operators running commercial holiday let businesses in England will benefit from the reduced rate. The previous 75% temporary discount expires and is superseded by the structural change to the rating system.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales

Industry body PASC UK is calling on the Welsh Government to repeal the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Act 2025 ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections. The levy of £1.30 per person per night for most accommodation can be adopted by councils from 2027.

The industry reports a 29% drop in overnight stays and warns over a quarter of operators plan to cease trading.

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's Tourism Authority set a February 28, 2026 deadline for all STR operators to register under the Tourism Act, with enforcement beginning March 1.

The requirement covers Airbnb hosts, lodges, and visitor attractions across all ten provinces. Unregistered operators face immediate closure and prosecution.

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