Ireland-wide: the 2026 Short-Term Letting Register

The Government has confirmed a nationwide register for short-term lets from 20 May 2026. When you register, Fáilte Ireland will issue a unique number per unit, to be displayed wherever you list. Registration will be annual, and platforms will have duties under Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 to collect/verify numbers and share activity data with authorities.

What it changes: visibility and enforcement. The register standardises host identification and gives councils reliable activity data through platform reporting. It doesn’t replace local planning rules, it sits alongside them.

Own a property in Dublin and want your short-let managed in line with the new register, Get a free management quote from Houst.

Dublin today: the rules that still apply

Dublin keeps the 2019 planning framework:

• Short-term letting means a letting that does not exceed 14 nights.
• You can let your entire PPR on a short-term basis for a total of 90 nights per calendar year while you are away.
• If you go beyond 90 nights, or you use any non-PPR for short-term letting, you will usually need change-of-use planning permission.

Citizens Information provides a plain-English summary consistent with the above.

Not sure how the 90-night cap and planning rules apply to your home, Request a free Dublin short-let management proposal from our team.

How the register and Dublin rules work together (scenarios)

• Occasional homeshare (rooms in your PPR while you’re present): No planning trigger; from May 2026, you’ll register your unit and display your number on listings.
• Letting your entire PPR while away, ≤90 days/year: Exempt from planning up to 90 days; from May 2026, you must register and display the number. Track nights to avoid crossing the cap.
• Entire PPR >90 days or any non-PPR: Expect planning permission in Dublin and STLR registration from 2026. Platforms will be obliged to verify your registration number and share data.

Quick notes for other Irish cities/councils

The planning logic is similar across Rent Pressure Zones. Official pages to bookmark:

• Cork City: homesharing unrestricted; entire PPR up to 90 days, beyond that needs planning.
• Galway City: ≤14-day definition; homeshare unrestricted in PPR; non-PPR needs planning.
• Limerick City & County: same framework — entire PPR up to 90 days; otherwise planning required.
• Fingal (North Co. Dublin): ≤90-day PPR allowance; planning beyond cap.
• Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown: same 90-day PPR limit; homeshare unrestricted.
• South Dublin County: page confirms the 2019 reforms and enforcement approach.

These callouts reassure hosts outside Dublin City that planning is still local — the national register simply adds an all-Ireland registration number from 2026.

Before the 2026 register goes live, see how much your Dublin property could earn with fully managed hosting and get a free management quote.

For a full breakdown of caps, permits and safety checks in the capital, read our Airbnb rules guide for Dublin.

Safety duties: building code vs fire-service guidance

Ireland’s official Guide to Fire Safety in Guest Accommodation sets expectations for detection, escape routes, and management — use it as your baseline regardless of scale. For site-specific questions in the capital, contact Dublin Fire Brigade – Fire Prevention.

Minimum actions most small STRs should document:

• Appropriate smoke/heat detection and test records.
• Escape route kept clear; evacuation plan available for guests.
• CO alarms where fuel appliances are present.

Taxes & VAT (fast primer)

• Income tax: Declare profits from short-term letting via your annual return (Revenue guidance applies).
• Rent-a-Room: Generally does not apply to short-term guest accommodation. Review qualifying conditions before assuming relief.
• VAT: Accommodation is typically at the 13.5% reduced rate. Services VAT registration threshold is €42,500 (from 1 Jan 2025) — monitor turnover; your facts may require registration earlier.

We’re not tax advisors; treat this as signposting to official sources.

To compare rules across Cork, Galway, Limerick and more, browse our Airbnb rules directory for Ireland.

How to stay compliant (now → May 2026)

1. Map your use
   • Are stays ≤14 nights? Is this your PPR? If you let your entire PPR, keep a 90-day tally per calendar year.
2. Check planning requirements
   • Non-PPR or >90 days? Expect planning permission in Dublin; speak to DCC Planning early.
3. Prepare for the STLR
   • Watch for Fáilte Ireland updates; be ready to register and display your number from 20 May 2026.
4. Fire safety
   • Implement the national guide; keep maintenance and drill logs; contact Dublin Fire Brigade for prevention queries.
5. Finance admin
   • Keep income/expense records; check VAT thresholds and current rates; file on time.
6. List transparently
   • From 2026, ensure your registration number appears on every listing; platforms must verify under the EU Regulation.

For step-by-step detail on forms, exemptions and the 90-day cap, read our Dublin short-lets planning and forms guide.

FAQ

1) When does the register start?

20 May 2026. Hosts offering accommodation up to 21 nights must register annually and display a number on listings.

2) Does the register replace planning permission?‍

No. It’s national and sits alongside local planning rules like Dublin’s 14-night-or-less definition and the 90-day cap for your principal private residence (PPR).

3) I rent my entire PPR occasionally — do I need permission?‍

Up to 90 days/year (stays ≤14 nights) is generally exempt; beyond that, apply for planning permission. From 2026 you’ll also register.

4) What about a second home/investment apartment?‍

Short-term letting a non-PPR in Dublin generally requires planning permission; from 2026 you’ll also need to register.

5) What are the penalties about platforms/data?‍

Under Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, platforms must verify/collect registration numbers and share activity data with authorities.

6) Does Rent-a-Room relief apply to Airbnb-style guests?‍

Typically no — check the qualifying conditions carefully.