Airbnb Regulations in France: Complete Guide for Hosts 2026

Airbnb rentals in France are governed by two main laws: the ELAN Act (loi ELAN, 2018) and the Le Meur Act (loi Le Meur, 2024). Since January 2025, the rules have tightened. Mandatory registration, energy performance diagnosis (DPE), night limits, and expanded powers for mayors. Here is what you need to know to rent legally in 2026.

ELAN Act and Le Meur Act: the two laws governing Airbnb

Two laws structure Airbnb regulations in France. They complement each other and apply simultaneously.

Criterion	ELAN Act (loi ELAN, 2018)	Le Meur Act (loi Le Meur, 2024)
Date	November 23, 2018	November 19, 2024
Objective	Regulate short-term rental of primary residences	Strengthen local regulation of furnished tourist accommodations
Key measure	90-day/year limit	Universal registration, DPE, expanded mayoral powers
Scope	Municipalities with a registration procedure	All French municipalities

The ELAN Act laid the foundations. The Le Meur Act strengthens oversight and gives local authorities new tools.

ELAN Act: 90 days per year, the rule for primary residences

90 days

This is the maximum duration of tourist rental allowed for a primary residence in France.

This limit applies per calendar year.

8 months

A primary residence is the home where you live for at least 8 months per year.

French cities where Airbnb blocks reservations beyond 90 nights

Airbnb automatically blocks reservations beyond this threshold in 18 French cities. Among them: Paris, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux, Aix-en-Provence, Annecy, Lille, Menton and Versailles.

In other municipalities that have implemented registration, the block also applies.

Vesna concierge tip

If you exceed this limit, you risk a fine of 10,000 euros.

Le Meur Act 2024: the 5 key measures for hosts

Act no. 2024-1039 of November 19, 2024 introduces five major changes. Here are the essential points.

Universal registration. By May 20, 2026, every furnished tourist accommodation must be declared via a national online service. A 13-character number will be assigned to each property.

For the steps involved, see our article Airbnb registration number: steps at the town hall.

Airbnb registration number - national online service

Mandatory DPE for furnished tourist accommodations

Mandatory DPE (energy performance diagnosis). New furnished accommodations in tight-market zones must present a DPE rated A to E. Properties rated G have already been banned in tight-market zones since January 2025. F-rated properties will be excluded from 2028.

To learn more, see our article DPE and short-term rental: is it mandatory?

Regulated change of use. Municipalities in tight-market zones have new tools to regulate the rental of secondary residences.

Co-ownership (copropriété). Co-ownership rules can be amended by a two-thirds majority to ban furnished tourist accommodations. The two-thirds rule replaces unanimity.

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Secondary residence: change of use in tight-market zones

If you own a secondary residence, the rules are different. In municipalities with more than 200,000 inhabitants, a change-of-use authorisation is mandatory. This obligation extends to cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants located in tight-market zones.

Secondary residence and change-of-use authorisation

Each city sets its own conditions. Some impose a compensation requirement: converting a commercial space into housing for every square metre converted.

Vesna concierge tip

Before investing in a property intended for tourist rental, check the change-of-use rules for the municipality. Some cities block new authorisations in the most tourist-heavy neighbourhoods.

Mandatory DPE: the timeline for tourist accommodations

Energy performance is becoming an eligibility criterion for tourist rental. Here are the key dates.

01
November 21, 2024
DPE mandatory for any new furnished accommodation in a tight-market zone. Rating A to E required.
02
January 1, 2025
Properties rated G can no longer be rented as tourist furnished accommodations in tight-market zones.
03
January 1, 2028
Ban extended to properties rated F in tight-market zones.
04
January 1, 2034
Only properties rated A to D will be authorised, across all zones.
05
Fine
Up to 5,000 euros for a non-compliant DPE. A daily penalty of 100 euros is also possible.

The DPE must be less than 10 years old. Its cost ranges from 100 to 250 euros depending on the surface area.

Vesna concierge tip

If your property is rated E, plan energy renovation work in advance. By 2034, this rating will no longer be sufficient. Insulating the attic or replacing the heating system can move your property up to D.

Airbnb fines and penalties in 2026

Financial penalties have been strengthened by the Le Meur Act. Here are the applicable fines.

Violation	Maximum fine
Failure to register the furnished accommodation	10,000 euros
False declaration at registration	20,000 euros
Exceeding the 120/90-day limit	15,000 euros
Renting without a change-of-use authorisation	50,000 euros per property
Absence of a compliant DPE	5,000 euros
Non-regularisation after formal notice	1,000 euros per day per square metre

Platforms are required to transmit rental data to municipalities. Failure to comply exposes the platform to a fine of 50,000 euros per listing.

These fines are issued by the president of the civil court (tribunal judiciaire), at the municipality's request. Hosts in violation also face an obligation to restore the property to its original use.

To understand the tax impact of these rules, see our guide on Airbnb taxation.

The complete timeline for new Airbnb rules

Here are the key dates to remember, from the adoption of the law to its full effect.

01
November 19, 2024
Enactment of the Le Meur Act (no. 2024-1039).
02
November 21, 2024
DPE mandatory for new furnished accommodations in tight-market zones.
03
January 1, 2025
New tax regime applicable (modified micro-BIC). Municipalities can lower the limit to 90 days.
04
May 20, 2026
Deadline for the roll-out of the national online registration service.
05
January 1, 2028
Ban on F-rated properties in tight-market zones.
06
January 1, 2034
Only A-to-D rated properties will be allowed as furnished tourist accommodations.

Vesna concierge tip

Mark these dates in your calendar. Each missed deadline can result in penalties. Our Airbnb concierge in Nice supports Côte d'Azur hosts in keeping up with these regulatory developments.

Frequently asked questions

Two texts structure the regulations. The ELAN Act (loi ELAN, 2018) sets the 90-day limit for primary residences. The Le Meur Act (loi Le Meur, 2024) adds mandatory registration, the DPE requirement and expanded powers for mayors.

Five major cities activated this measure in 2025: Paris (since January 2025), Marseille (since early 2025), Nice (applicable in 2026), Bordeaux (since January 1, 2026), Lyon (since January 1, 2026).

In 2026, tourist furnished accommodations in tight-market zones must have a DPE rating of A to E. G-rated properties have already been banned since 2025. F-rated properties will be excluded in 2028, then E-rated ones in 2034.

Yes, but under strict conditions in large cities: obtaining a change-of-use authorisation from the town hall, complying with any neighbourhood quotas and displaying a compliant DPE (rating A to E).

Yes. By May 20, 2026, all municipalities must offer an online registration service. This 13-character number must appear on every online listing. Without it, you risk a fine of 10,000 euros.

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