Vacation-rental rules in the Canary Islands: requirements, registration and licence

Setting up a vacation rental in the Canary Islands isn’t just posting the listing: there’s a legal framework that decides whether you can operate, how you must register and what duties you take on with each guest. The rules have changed a lot in recent years and keep evolving, so this guide gives you the general map in plain language — not the fine print — so you know what to check and where. The specific details and thresholds depend on the rules in force and on your municipality: always verify them in the official sources.

The framework: from Decree 113/2015 to the new Canarian law

For years, vacation rentals in the Canary Islands have been governed by Decree 113/2015, which defined what a VV (vivienda vacacional) is, its minimum requirements and the duty to declare it to the tourism authority. That decree has seen legal back-and-forth, and in recent years a new Canarian law regulating the tourist use of homes has been going through the process, reshaping the sector. Before registering your property, check which rule is in force at the time you operate: that’s the point that changes most.

Common requirements to operate a vacation rental

Although the detail depends on the rules in force and on your municipality, these are the requirements usually expected of a vacation rental in the Canary Islands:

• ✓The home must meet habitability conditions (an occupancy certificate or equivalent) and be properly equipped.
• ✓Minimum equipment and services: furniture, heating or ventilation as appropriate to the area, a first-aid kit, tourist information and a complaints form available to the guest.
• ✓Identification of the property as a VV and display of the registration number in advertising and listings.
• ✓Compliance with municipal urban planning: not every plot or building allows tourist use.
• ✓Where applicable, the consent of the owners’ association (see below).

Registration: tourism sign-up and registration number

Operating a VV means registering it with the Canary Islands tourism authority (usually via a responsible declaration of start of activity), which assigns your registration number. On top of that comes the national single rental registry and its digital one-stop shop: to advertise short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb or Booking, a registration number is required and must be shown in your listings. Without that number, platforms can remove or block your listing.

The owners’ association’s consent

If your property is in a building or development with an owners’ association, it may limit or condition short-term rental activity. Recent reforms of the Horizontal Property Law let associations, by qualified majorities, restrict or impose conditions on new VVs. Review your association’s bylaws and resolutions before investing: it’s a point many owners overlook.

Zone limits, moratoriums and planning

Some municipalities and islands apply limits, moratoriums or maximum VV percentages in certain areas, depending on their planning and tourist pressure. The fact that your neighbour has a VV doesn’t guarantee you can register one today on the same street. Confirm it with your town hall and island council before buying or renovating with that goal.

Once legal: the day-to-day duties

With the VV registered, the operational duties begin. The main one is traveller registration: under Royal Decree 933/2021, you must report your guests’ data to the Interior Ministry’s SES.Hospedajes platform within 24 hours and keep the record. On tax, unlike other regions the Canary Islands don’t apply a general regional tourist tax, but the accommodation is subject to IGIC and some municipalities are studying local levies — check your specific situation.

How Kanarix helps (and what it doesn’t do)

Kanarix doesn’t handle your licence or tourism registration: that’s down to you or your advisor. What we do is the rest, once you’re compliant: we build your custom direct-booking website (with your registration number visible, as advertising rules require), with a commission-free booking engine, a guest portal with digital check-in that collects the traveller data for SES.Hospedajes, and IGIC handling at checkout. You take care of being legal; we take care of you operating with less paperwork and more direct bookings.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to rent my vacation home in the Canary Islands?

Yes: you must register the activity with the Canary Islands tourism authority and obtain your registration number before operating and advertising. The specific requirements depend on the rules in force and on your municipality.

What is the registration number and where should I display it?

It’s the identifier assigned by the tourism registry and, where applicable, the national rental registry. You must display it in your advertising and on platform listings like Airbnb or Booking; without it they may block your listing.

Can the owners’ association ban my VV?

It can limit or condition it. Recent reforms of the Horizontal Property Law let associations restrict new vacation rentals by qualified majorities. Review your association’s bylaws and resolutions.

Is there a tourist tax in the Canary Islands?

As of this article, the Canary Islands don’t apply a general regional tourist tax like some other regions, though the accommodation is subject to IGIC and some municipalities are studying local levies. Always confirm your specific tax situation.

Does Kanarix handle my vacation-rental licence?

No. Kanarix doesn’t handle your registration or licence; that’s down to you or your advisor. Once you’re compliant, we build your direct-booking website and the operational side (traveller registration, IGIC at checkout).