March 2026
Do we need to seek retention planning now?
Accommodation providers based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last census, based on the census town boundaries (defined by CSO), will have two years to meet planning compliance requirements.
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, with no further lead-in period, if they wish to register their STL property with Fáilte Ireland.
In line with established rights, where it can be proven that a residential property has been operated by an STL provider for at least 7 years and no enforcement action has been taken by the planning authority, planning permission for retention may be sought.
Therefore, all accommodation providers based in towns with a population of more than 20,000 will need to have their planning permission in place in time for registration.
What is the situation for properties approved by Fáilte Ireland for many years, but without specific planning permission as a self-catering unit?
The registration requirements apply to all short-term letting (STL) operators, irrespective of whether they have previously received approval under the Fáilte Ireland welcome standard, National Quality Assurance Framework or any associated frameworks with Fáilte Ireland.
Will there be delays in implementing the STL legislation?
The register will be established following the enactment of the necessary legislation and will be aligned with the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation, which comes into force on 20 May 2026.
Are heritage sites exempt?
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently finalising a National Planning Statement (NPS) under section 25 of the Planning & Development Act 2024, for short-term letting activity, which will be subject to Government approval and will give effect to this decision. It will continue to be the case that change of use planning permission is necessary for STL, where not subject to exemptions first set out in 2019.
The NPS for short-term letting will ensure that there is a clear overall policy approach, both at national level and local authority level, to enable planning authorities to determine planning applications for short-term lets across the Country.
Can ISCF registration transfer to Fáilte Ireland for properties already registered?
No. All STL Hosts will be required to register their unit/s and confirm that their unit/s complies with planning requirements, meaning they either have the appropriate planning permission or are exempt from the requirement to obtain such permission.
Why is planning permission or retention required if a property qualifies under grandfather provisions?
Because it will continue to be the case that change of use planning permission is necessary for STL. In line with existing established rights, where it can be proven that a residential property has been operated by an STL provider for at least 7 years and no enforcement action has been taken by the planning authority, planning permission for retention may be sought.
Will planning permission result in commercial rates applying?
This query should be addressed to the Local Authority or Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who have responsibility for rates.
How will all short-term lets be processed, given the limited resources in local authority planning departments?
Applications for change of use planning permission for STLs will be processed by the relevant Local Authorities.
When is the latest recommended date for hosts to register with Fáilte Ireland for short-term lettings?
Once the register opens, all STL hosts will be required to register with Fáilte Ireland.
Does “towns with a population of 20,000 or less” apply only to properties within town boundaries or also to rural properties nearby?
The boundary of the town is based on the CSO boundaries.
Why is planning permission required if a property is already registered with Fáilte Ireland and covered under the 7-year rule?
Change of use planning permission is required. If the business has operated for at least 7 years and no enforcement action has been taken by the planning authority, planning permission for retention may be sought.
Will Fáilte Ireland issue registration numbers without planning permission where not required?
Yes, Fáilte Ireland will issue registration numbers to accommodation providers based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last census, based on the census town boundaries (defined by CSO), as they will have two years to meet planning compliance requirements.
How will members in areas with a population of over 20,000 proceed, given no lead-in time to regularise planning?
The need to regularise planning has been communicated, and any operators based in towns with a population of more than 20,000 will need to have their planning permission in place in time for registration.
What can the ISCF do to ensure equitable treatment between different areas?
Are exemptions, including ISCF quality assurance, still under consideration?
No. The rules will apply to all STL operators.
What does “mobile and non-permanent” mean in practice (e.g. shepherd’s huts or mobile homes—must they be towable or simply removable)?
This is not relevant. A unit is defined as a furnished accommodation that is the subject of the provision of a short-term accommodation rental service.
Do booking platforms share data monthly for all properties or only those registered and booking under 21 nights?
The platforms are required to provide monthly ‘activity data’ reports on short-term rental activity to Member States.
They are also required to conduct random checks and to provide the results of those checks to Member States.
How can property owners prove exemptions to platforms?
STL hosts will be required to declare that they are in an area where a registration procedure applies and provide a valid registration number to the platform.
Is compensation available for operators whose businesses may be negatively impacted?
No.
Is it possible to obtain exemptions for long-established properties without planning permission?
In line with existing established rights, where it can be proven that a residential property has been operated by an STL provider for at least 7 years and no enforcement action has been taken by the planning authority, planning permission for retention may be sought.
The Department of Enterprise Tourism and Employment has developed a webpage where information is easily accessible for the sector, and this is available at https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/the-business-environment/tourism/short-term-letting/