The EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services within the EU.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has drafted the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short term lettings. This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026.
Following the approval received from Government on the 15 April 2025 for a threshold-based apporach to generally preclude new planning permissions for Short-Term Lets in larger towns and cities, my Department is working to give effect to this decision. Further to this, on 9 February last, the Cabinet Committee on Housing proposed to apply this to lettings in the largest 25 towns and cities with a population in excess of 20,000, at the most recent Census of Population, subject to Cabinet approval.
In line with the proposed introduction of DETE’s STLT Bill, all short-term letting accommodation providers will be required to register with Fáilte Ireland, as part of the registration process, accommodation providers will need to confirm that they are planning compliant.
Accommodation providers based in towns with a population of more than 20,000 at the last census, will need to confirm planning compliance on registration if they wish to register their short-term letting property with Fáilte Ireland. Accommodation providers in all other areas will have an extended lead-in period to meet planning compliance requirements.
To ensure that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for Short-Term Lets, my Department is currently finalising a National Planning Statement on Short-Term Letting to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill.
It should be noted that in advance of publication of the NPS, local authorities can continue to make decisions on applications for change of use in respect of short-term letting properties. The decision of the local authority will be informed by local policy contained in the city and county development plans and local area plans, where applicable.
In January this year my Department issued Circular SPI 01/2026 on Short-Term Letting and the Planning System - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/circulars/spi-012026-short-term-letting-and-the-planning-system/ - to clarify the current legislative and policy framework for the regulation of short-term letting of houses and apartments and other residential accommodation in the planning system. The circular was issued to all planning authorities and service providers, as well as other relevant stakeholders.
