France Guest Registration Law: Complete 2026 Guide for Hosts
France guest registration law requires short-term rental hosts to declare their property through a national online system and display a registration number on every listing. The rule becomes mandatory nationwide through a dedicated tele-service starting May 20, 2026, and applies to hosts renting on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or any other platform.
This article covers what the registration process requires, how the tourist tax works alongside it, and what hosts should keep in mind to avoid fines for non-compliance.
Key Takeaways
France guest registration law requires hosts to declare their short-term rental through a national online system and display the resulting registration number on every listing.
The registration number is 13 digits, with the first 5 digits corresponding to the INSEE code of the city where the property is located.
Hosts renting a primary residence can typically list it for up to 120 nights a year, though some municipalities may reduce that cap to 90 nights.
Platforms such as Airbnb are required to collect the taxe de sejour on behalf of non-professional hosts in many municipalities and remit it directly to the local government.
Listing a property without a valid registration number can typically result in fines of up to 10000 euros per listing under France's Loi Le Meur reform, with additional penalties possible for exceeding the annual night cap.
What France Guest Registration Requires
Under France guest registration law, hosts must declare their rental property through a national online tele-service and receive a registration number before listing it on any platform. The number is made up of 13 digits, with the first five representing the INSEE code of the city where the property sits.
Hosts who want to rent their primary residence must typically prove it is in fact their main home, usually by providing a tax notice showing the property address. Primary residences can generally be rented for up to 120 nights per year, though individual municipalities have the authority to lower that limit to 90 nights.
Under the same registration requirement, hosts are typically required to provide:
proof the property is a primary or secondary residence
a completed national declaration through the online tele-service
the resulting registration number displayed on every listing
supporting documents such as a tax notice for primary residences
How the French Tourist Tax Works Alongside Registration
Separate from the registration number, most short-term rental guests in France pay a taxe de sejour, a nightly tourist tax that is generally set by the local municipality. For unclassified furnished rentals, the tax is typically calculated as a percentage of the nightly rate per guest, commonly in the range of 1 to 5 percent, with Paris applying the maximum rate.
Since 2019, platforms that act as payment intermediaries, including Airbnb, have generally been required to collect this tax automatically from guests and remit it to the relevant municipality on a set schedule. This can reduce the manual work involved for hosts, though it does not remove the separate obligation to complete the national registration.
Hosts navigating both obligations should typically track:
the applicable taxe de sejour rate for their municipality
whether their booking platform collects and remits the tax automatically
their national registration number and its display on every listing
any night cap that applies to their specific commune
Staying Compliant With France Guest Registration Rules
Because this registration ties directly into what a host can legally advertise, keeping the number current and correctly displayed is typically the first compliance step for any new listing. Fines for listing without a valid registration number can reach up to 10000 euros per listing under the Loi Le Meur reform, with additional penalties possible for exceeding the annual night cap.
Digital tools that centralize guest information and booking records can make it easier for hosts to keep documentation ready if a municipality ever requests it. ChargeAutomation’s guest registration and legal authority reporting features are live in a number of countries, with coverage expanding over time, and hosts can launch their online check-in at chargeautomation.com to see what is currently supported.
Hosts managing a France registration typically need a process for:
renewing or updating their registration if property details change
tracking their annual night cap under the primary residence rules
confirming tourist tax collection with each booking platform
keeping registration and tax records organized in one place
Frequently Asked Questions
What are France's guest registration requirements for short-term rentals?
France guest registration law requires hosts to declare their property through a national online system and display the resulting 13 digit registration number on every listing before renting it out.
How does French tourist tax work for Airbnb hosts?
Airbnb and similar platforms generally collect the taxe de sejour automatically from guests in many French municipalities and remit it to the local government, though hosts in some areas may still need to handle it separately.
How many nights can I rent my primary residence in France?
Primary residences can typically be rented for up to 120 nights per year in France, though some municipalities have the authority to reduce that cap to 90 nights.
What happens if I list a property in France without a registration number?
Listing a short-term rental in France without a valid registration number can typically result in fines of up to 10000 euros per listing under the Loi Le Meur reform.
Do all short-term rental platforms require a France registration number?
Yes, the registration number is generally required to be displayed on listings across Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and any other platform or website advertising the property.
