Airbnb Regulations in La Rochelle (2026)

Last verified: October 19, 2026

Editorial review

AirConcierge Editorial Team. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Local rules and your individual circumstances prevail.

120

days max/year

Yes

Registration

Yes

Change of use

La Rochelle applies the national 120-day/year cap for primary residences. Registration is mandatory. Since the deliberation of November 13, 2025, secondary residences rented as tourist accommodation need a change-of-use authorization in the 10 municipalities concerned, with compensation in 3 La Rochelle districts.

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Registration requirements

●
City hall registration — Since May 20, 2026, prior declaration for registration is mandatory for every furnished tourist rental, including primary residences, in every municipality (Tourism Code art. L324-1-1). Check the applicable online service with the municipality until the national portal opens.
●
Registration number — The registration number must appear on all your listings (Airbnb, Booking, etc.). Platforms are required to verify it.
●
Energy Performance Certificate (DPE) — For properties requiring a change-of-use permit (secondary residences), a DPE rated between A and E is required to obtain the authorization (Housing Code art. L631-7-1 A, loi Le Meur), then between A and D from 2034. From January 1, 2034, every furnished tourist rental that is not the host's primary residence must meet decent-housing energy standards (Tourism Code art. L324-2-2). No DPE is required for a primary residence.

Primary vs secondary residence

Primary

120 d/yr

Your primary residence (where you live at least 8 months per year) can be rented as furnished tourist accommodation for a maximum of 120 days per year. The municipality can reduce this cap to 90 days by municipal council decision.

Secondary

Change of use: required · Compensation: yes

Change of use is mandatory for secondary residences. In La Rochelle, year-round rental needs a permanent authorization, and compensation is required in the Minimes, Centre-Ville and Gabut districts. In the 9 other municipalities concerned, the authorization is temporary (3 years). Mixed rentals in La Rochelle get a 1-year authorization.

Taxation

Tourist tax: 1-5%

Micro-BIC: 50% (classés) / 30% (non classés)

Furnished rental income is declared under micro-BIC regime or actual expenses. Since loi Le Meur (n°2024-1039): 50% allowance for classified tourist furnished rentals, 30% for non-classified (€15,000 cap). Tourist tax is collected automatically by platforms.

Compliance checklist

1
Check your property status
Determine if it is your primary residence (8+ months/year) or secondary. Rules differ considerably.
2
Register with city hall
Declare your rental and obtain your registration number. The national online service has been mandatory since May 20, 2026, but the host portal (DGE) is announced for Q4 2026: until then, follow your city hall's procedure.
3
Display number on your listings
Add your registration number on all platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo, etc.).
4
Obtain energy certificate
If your property is a secondary residence subject to change-of-use, obtain a DPE: a DPE rated A to E is required for the authorization (Housing Code art. L631-7-1 A). For a primary residence, a DPE is not required at registration.
5
Declare your income
Declare your rental income under BIC (micro-BIC or actual). Tourist tax is collected by platforms.

Fines

Offense	Fine	Details
Failure to register	10 000 EUR max	Fine for the host who does not declare their tourist rental (Tourism Code art. L324-1-1).
Exceeding the day cap	15 000 EUR max	Fine for renting a primary residence beyond the annual cap that applies in the municipality (Tourism Code art. L324-1-1).
False declaration or registration number	20 000 EUR max	Fine for a false declaration (including primary residence status) or a fake registration number (Tourism Code art. L324-1-1).
Unauthorized change of use	100 000 EUR max	Civil fine per unit converted without authorization where one is required, plus a penalty of up to EUR 1,000 per day per m² (Housing Code art. L651-2).
Listing without registration number (platform)	12 500 EUR max par meublé	Fine for the platform publishing a listing without a valid registration number, per property (Tourism Code art. L324-2-1).

Official sources

Last verified: October 19, 2026. Check official sources for the most recent information.

How should you run your rental?

FAQ

How many days can I rent my primary residence in La Rochelle?

120 days per year for primary residences. Mandatory registration with the city hall is required (declaration number to be displayed on all listings).

Is my secondary residence in La Rochelle subject to a change-of-use authorization?

Yes. Since deliberation DCC131125_01 of November 13, 2025, secondary residences rented as tourist accommodation in the 10 zone-tendue communes require a change-of-use authorization: permanent in La Rochelle, temporary (3 years) in the other 9 communes. In 3 La Rochelle districts (Minimes, Centre-Ville, Gabut), compensation is mandatory.

How many tourist rentals can I operate in the La Rochelle agglomeration?

A maximum of 3 change-of-use authorizations is granted per owner (natural person) in the 10 zone-tendue communes. Legal entities (SCI, SARL) can only obtain permanent authorization with compensation.

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