Published on: 28/10/2024 Updated on: 06/08/2026
If you’re considering entering the vacation rental sector in any municipality of the Valencian Community, this article will guide you through the process to obtain a tourist housing licence in the region, as well as the regulations and required documentation to apply for it. If you have multiple properties across the country, it’s worth knowing how to obtain a vacation rental license in other regions.
The Valencian framework changed substantially with Decree-Law 9/2024 of 2 August, issued by the Consell, which amended the rules governing tourist-use housing (five-year validity of the registration, responsible declaration for renewal, mandatory cadastral reference and new grounds for deregistration). On top of that comes the national reform of the Horizontal Property Act, in force since 3 April 2025, which requires authorisation from the homeowners’ association, and the municipal urban planning restrictions (in the city of València, a 2% cap on tourist dwellings per neighbourhood and a moratorium on new licences in saturated areas). Always check your municipality’s local rules before starting the procedure.
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The legal basis is Law 15/2018 on Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality, the higher-ranking statute, developed by Decree 10/2021 of 22 January, which regulates tourist accommodation. Both texts were amended by Decree-Law 9/2024 of 2 August, in force since 8 August 2024.
Among other conditions, the framework establishes that:
Beyond the regional framework, each town council can impose additional limits. In January 2025, València City Council approved rules that cap tourist dwellings at 2% per neighbourhood and maintain a moratorium on new licences in high-density areas such as Ciutat Vella and the seafront. In certain areas, new registrations require the property to be on the ground or first floor with independent access. The Special Protection Plan (PEP) for Ciutat Vella, which restricts accommodation in the historic centre, also remains in force.
In the Valencian Community, tourist housing must meet several requirements to operate legally, mainly regulated by the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Law and its implementing rules.
You must certify ownership of the property through the title deeds or the purchase-sale contract. If the holder is a company, the documentation of the legal entity must be provided.
Every property intended for tourist rental must be registered in the Valencian Community Tourism Registry. In some municipalities, a specific tourist-use licence is also required, depending on each town council’s rules.
Since the reform of the Horizontal Property Act came into force on 3 April 2025, using a dwelling for tourist purposes in a building under horizontal property rules requires prior, express authorisation from the association, with a favourable vote of three fifths (3/5) of the owners. Decree-Law 9/2024 also requires a certificate from the association confirming that the statutes do not prohibit this activity. The reform is not retroactive for those already operating with their administrative authorisations in order.
Properties must meet a minimum surface area based on their capacity, which is determined by the habitability certificate (cédula de habitabilidad) and the maximum number of guests (which must be stated in advertising and cannot be exceeded). Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency signage and an evacuation plan are mandatory, along with compliance with fire safety regulations. The energy performance certificate must be valid and appear in listings and contracts; its absence can lead to penalties.
On check-in, guests must be given information about the use of the facilities, the rules of coexistence and the procedure in case of emergency, set out in the vacation rental house rules. Guest registration on the SES.HOSPEDAJES platform is also mandatory: the owner or manager must register the property in the traveller registration system and integrate with the platform.
Every tourist property must display the official distinctive (a red plaque with a white key icon) near the entrance, inside or outside, including the registration number from the Valencian Community Tourism Registry.
Complaints forms must be kept in a visible place and properly signposted. Their absence exposes the establishment to financial penalties.
First, you must obtain a Municipal Urban Compatibility Report from the Urban Planning Department, which verifies that the property meets the requirements of the zone. Once the report is favourable, you can start processing the licence by providing the following documentation:
Depending on the number of properties you manage, you will need to register as a business manager (5 or more properties managed) or as a private manager (1 to 4 properties).
Guest registration remains mandatory through SES.HOSPEDAJES: the owner or manager must register the property and comply with the deadlines and formats for submitting data as part of their security obligations.
Advertising a property for tourist purposes without registration in the Valencian Community Tourism Registry constitutes an illegal tourist offer, exposing you to the penalties described above. On top of that:
Tourist housing in the Valencian Community is subject to three types of taxes:
Income can be declared as real estate capital yields, since it comes from renting out a property. If the property is rented through a company, it must be declared as business activity yields.
Regardless of how you declare your rental income, you can deduct certain expenses:
As for the tourist tax, one point that causes confusion is worth clarifying: the Valencian Community did approve the Valencian Tax on Tourist Stays (IVET) through Law 7/2022, but it was repealed by Decree-Law 12/2023 of 10 November before it ever came into force. As things stand today, no accommodation in the Valencian Community is required to charge a tourist tax, and there is no municipal ordinance applying one, although the political debate resurfaces with every high season.
