Do You Need Planning Permission for a Airbnb / Short-Term Let in Ireland?
Renting a room in your own home to short-term guests needs no planning permission in Ireland. Letting your ENTIRE home is exempt up to 90 days a year. Short-term letting a property that is NOT your home always needs change-of-use permission, and from May 2026 all lets must be registered.
Rules have conditions, and the conditions are where projects fail. Answer a few questions about your exact situation and get a plain-English answer with the regulation cited.
Check your project freeThe rules for a airbnb / short-term let
- 1.Home-sharing (you living there, letting a room) is exempt with no limit on nights.
- 2.Letting your entire principal private residence: max 90 days per year, each stay under 14 days; in Rent Pressure Zones you must notify the council annually.
- 3.Over 90 days, or any short-term letting of a property that isn't your home, is a material change of use needing planning permission -- which councils in high-demand areas rarely grant.
- 4.Unauthorised short-term letting is enforceable: councils issue warning letters and enforcement notices based on listings.
- 5.From May 2026, every short-stay listing (up to 21 nights) must carry a Fáilte Ireland registration number; platforms face penalties for unregistered listings.
Reference: S.I. No. 235 of 2019; Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Act 2024
Frequently asked questions
Can I Airbnb my house while I'm on holidays?
Yes -- letting your entire principal private residence for short stays is exempt up to 90 days per year, with each letting under 14 days. In a Rent Pressure Zone you must notify your local authority. Beyond 90 days you need change-of-use permission.
Do I need planning permission to Airbnb an apartment I own but don't live in?
Yes, always -- short-term letting a property that is not your principal private residence is a material change of use. In Rent Pressure Zones and other high-demand areas, permission is unlikely to be granted, and letting without it risks enforcement.
Turns out you need permission?
Start with the pre-submission checklist, estimate costs with the fee calculator, and read the step-by-step application guide. For uncertain cases, a Section 5 Declaration from your council (~€80) gives a formal ruling either way.
Need help with your application?
Tell us about your project and we'll connect you with an architect or planning consultant in your county. Free, no obligation.
Related projects
This page is general guidance on the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), not legal advice. Exemptions do not apply to protected structures or in Architectural Conservation Areas, and conditions apply in every case. Confirm with your local authority before starting work.
