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Lyon Municipal Elections 2026: Airbnb Impact

March 15 & 22, 2026 · Current mayor: Grégory Doucet (EELV)

90

days max/year

90j

current cap

Non

Quotas

Yes

Rent control

Lyon reduced the limit to 90 days since January 2026. Green mayor Grégory Doucet seeks re-election against Jean-Michel Aulas (LR), who proposes rent deregulation. Housing is at the center of the campaign.

Candidates and Airbnb positions

Grégory DoucetIncumbent

EELV / Gauche unie

Incumbent green mayor, elected in 2020 at the head of a left-green coalition.

Airbnb / housing position

Proposes a "public housing service", municipal housing insurance and targets 30% social housing by 2040. Pro-rent-control.

Jean-Michel Aulas

LR / Droite et Centre

Former president of Olympique Lyonnais (1987-2023), entrepreneur. Main right-wing challenger.

Airbnb / housing position

Wants to deregulate rents with a "voluntary moderation charter" — approach directly opposing Doucet.

Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi

LFI

30-year-old deputy, La France Insoumise candidate.

Airbnb / housing position

Strongly pro-regulation, strict rent and short-term rental controls.

Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert

Gauche dissidente

Former 1st arrondissement mayor (2001-2020).

Airbnb / housing position

Positioned on social housing and strict tourist rental regulation.

Current regulation

90 jours/an

Primary residence limit

En vigueur

Rent control

<60m² : 9 ans

Hyper-center compensation

Mai 2026

National platform

Lyon applies the 90-day limit since January 1, 2026. Change of use is mandatory for secondary residences, with strict compensation rules in the hyper-center.

See full regulation guide for Lyon →

What could change

Quotas in Presqu'île and Vieux Lyon

Possible

If Doucet is re-elected, tourist rental quotas in the most touristic neighborhoods are likely.

Loosening if the right wins

Possible

Aulas proposes replacing rent control with a voluntary charter. Pressure on short-term rentals could ease.

Dedicated municipal enforcement service

Likely

The creation of a dedicated tourist rental enforcement service is mentioned by several left-wing candidates.

Key campaign issues

Rent control

Maintaining or removing rent control is the divisive issue of this election. Doucet implemented it, Aulas wants to replace it.

Student housing crisis

Lyon is a major student city. Converting apartments to tourist rentals worsens the student housing shortage.

Sources

Last updated: February 2026. Check sources for the most recent information.

FAQ

Will Lyon further tighten Airbnb regulations?

It's likely if Grégory Doucet is re-elected. Quotas in tourist neighborhoods and a dedicated enforcement service are planned. If the right wins with Aulas, pressure could ease.

What impact would an Aulas victory have on Airbnb owners?

Aulas wants to deregulate rents and adopt a more market-friendly approach. The 90-day limit would remain (it's the law), but additional controls and quotas would be less likely.

Can the 90-day limit be reversed by a new mayor?

Yes. The reduction from 120 to 90 days is a municipal deliberation that can be amended by the new council. But it's politically difficult — no candidate explicitly proposes it.

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