Julian
Lawyer · Toulouse, France
- 117 cases handled
- 39+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, German, French
- Law with Honours, Liverpool University
Tourist Rental License & Registration in France
Lawyers who explain the rules for letting a home in France to tourists — the declaration at the town hall, the registration number on every listing, the change-of-use permit some cities demand — and help owners set up or defend a holiday let.
About Tourist Rental License & Registration in France
A tourist rental licence in France — what English speakers search as Airbnb rules, short-term rental rules or holiday let registration — is not one national licence but a set of steps for a meublé de tourisme, a furnished home let to visitors: the declaration at the town hall (déclaration en mairie), the registration number (numéro d'enregistrement) that every listing has to show, and in many cities a permit to change the use of a home (changement d'usage). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Tourism License Application”. It is for owners, foreign and French, who let or plan to let a home in France for short stays.
How it works
- Declaration and number. The holiday let is declared to the commune, which issues a registration number for the listings. A recent law, known as the loi Le Meur, extends registration across the country through a national online service being phased in.
- Main home or second home. Letting one's own main home to tourists is allowed only for part of the year. Letting a second home in a city with a housing shortage usually needs a change-of-use permit, sometimes with an obligation to create housing elsewhere.
- Local rules. Towns can set quotas and zones, lower the number of days allowed and, for new permits, demand a minimum energy rating.
- The building. The rules of a block of flats can restrict or forbid holiday lets.
Points to watch
Rules differ from one city to the next — Paris, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux and many coastal and mountain resorts have their own — and have changed more than once; a lawyer confirms the ones that apply. Platforms remove listings without a valid number, and letting without a declaration or permit can lead to fines. The income is taxed in France, resident or not (see property tax for foreign owners), and a let that offers hotel-type services can fall under VAT.
What a lawyer does
Before a purchase the lawyer checks whether the home can be let to tourists at all; afterwards the lawyer prepares the declaration and any change-of-use application, reads the building's rules, answers the town hall and defends the owner against a fine. Disputes inside a building go to property rights and disputes; buyers can start with property purchase.
Questions and answers
Is a licence needed to rent a home on Airbnb in France?
Not a licence as such, but a declaration and a registration number, and in many cities a change-of-use permit for a second home.
What is the numéro d'enregistrement?
The number the commune issues for a declared holiday let; it has to appear in every advert.
Can the building's rules stop a holiday let?
They can, depending on their wording and the use the building is meant for; the exact clause and the owners' meeting decisions decide.
Can a non-resident owner let a holiday home in France?
Yes, under the same local rules as a French owner, and the rental income is declared in France.
1 lawyer who provides Tourist Rental License & Registration in France
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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What our clients say about our service in France
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The service was fast and efficient. The lawyer is excellent at guiding people through the tricky, confusing Italian bureaucracy.
— Joseph06 May 2026Tourist Rental License & Registration -
From start to finish the lawyer was knowledgeable, informative and professional. His friendliness created a relaxed atmosphere, which eased what was at times a stressful situation, and I would highly recommend his services.
— Karen22 Aug 2025Tourist Rental License & Registration -
This service helped me so much that I can hardly put it into words. The lawyer was one of the biggest helps in opening my business in the Canary Islands!
— Rahel13 Jul 2022 -
The lawyer phoned me within 24 hours of my first email and explained the next stages very clearly over the telephone. The emails that followed were consistent and very helpful. She handled every stage efficiently, which made applying for the tourist licence on my property in Spain very easy. I was impressed by her persistence in getting the Guardia Civil to issue the passwords I needed to upload information to them, as Spanish law requires. I am very satisfied with the outcome.
— Brenda29 Nov 2020 -
I had an informal introductory meeting with the lawyer, who answered all my questions and offered much more information and many suggestions I had never considered. I found him extremely friendly and professional, and his English is flawless, so understanding him was never a problem. Next year I will use him for my first Spanish tax return, and I will then be better placed to comment on the quality and price of the service. So far everything has been very good.
— Stephen13 Aug 2019Tourist Rental License & Registration -
He was very responsive, always told us where the process stood and moved fast whenever he could. We were very satisfied and would definitely recommend him.
— Johanna17 Oct 2025 -
The lawyer was responsive, quick to get back to me and professional.
— Kevin27 Mar 2022 -
Good value for money and able to explain and provide appropriate solutions. Did not push for court even though it would have been more financially rewarding. Excellent assistance.
— Andrew27 Apr 2021Rental Deposit Recovery, France -
The lawyer was very responsive and began advising me as soon as I made my first contact. She understands you well, being French and also well versed in English, so there was no trouble understanding her. With her sound advice I was able to make informed decisions. Her fees are reasonable, and she explains things to you very well before you engage her. She has been very professional in every respect. She is very smart, and her own reflection on her work is the only way for her to improve further.
— Rameez24 Apr 2020Rental Deposit Recovery, France -
The lawyer was extremely helpful to us. We had been struggling with my father's estate for years without getting anywhere, and he resolved everything quickly and efficiently. We are completely satisfied with the outcome.
— Leticia30 May 2025 -
Brilliant lawyer, for whom nothing was too much trouble. Others had advised me that my issue could not be fixed, yet she resolved it. I am truly grateful for her hard work, and I am very satisfied with the result.
— Georgina05 Sep 2023 -
He was knowledgeable, responsive and competent, and a great communicator in perfect English. A pleasure.
— Lori14 Dec 2022