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Rules • Home host

Cantabria

You can also read this article in Spanish or English.

This article provides a general overview on regional laws and regulations that may affect hosts in Cantabria. Beside these laws, municipalities may have approved zoning regulations and/or restrictions that can impact your activity. You are required to make sure that you follow the laws and regulations that may apply to your specific circumstances and locality.

The information contained in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal, tax, or professional advice of any kind. While we strive to ensure that the content is accurate and up to date, this article is not exhaustive and may not reflect the most recent developments, changes in regulations, or interpretations. We encourage you to conduct your own independent research and to verify any information with official or authoritative sources before making decisions based on the content provided herein. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information, and we expressly disclaim any liability arising from its use. You should consult with a qualified legal, tax, or other professional advisor regarding your specific circumstances before taking or refraining from any action based on this information.

Regional regulations

The Regional Government of Cantabria has specific regulations for tourist accommodations. According to the regional Decree on the matter, “tourist accommodations” are understood to be those meeting the requirements of the minimum housing program, offered for tourism purposes and in exchange for a price.

Tourist accommodations in Cantabria may be offered either as an entire place (single unit) or by rooms, meaning that both are subject to obligation requirements specified below.

Regional registration requirements

In Cantabria you need to register any accommodation you plan to offer as a tourist accommodation within the Tourism Register of Cantabria. As part of the process, you will first need to submit a statement of responsibility to the General Directory of Tourism that declares compliance with the current regulations and any other requirements foreseen at regional and local levels. 

To do so, you will need to fill out this online form. Please note that you will be required to provide a valid identification, such as a digital certificate or Cl@ve, and to provide the following information:

  • Information regarding the owner (personal identification number, phone number and email address)
  • Name, address and cadastral reference of the accommodation
  • Modality of the accommodation, either as a room-by-room, or as an entire property
  • Maximum guest capacity of the property (You can check out this information in the certificate of habitability (cédula de habitabilidad).)
  • Expected calendar availability of the tourist accommodation (either all year or specific days or months)

Also, bear in mind that you must have the following documents available in the event of an inspection by the relevant authorities:

  • A copy of the statement of responsibility submitted to the relevant authorities
  • Proof of ownership or possession of the property
  • Certificate of habitability
  • Express authorization from the homeowners’ building association (comunidad de propietarios) to carry out a tourist activity. This applies only to registrations made after the entry into force of LO 1/2025 (April 2025) and does not apply retroactively.
  • A local report on urban planning compatibility for tourist use certifying that the tourist activity can be carried out according to urban planning regulations
  • Certificate of residence registration (certificado de empadronamiento), in the case of a room-by-room rental
  • Invoice or contract for the fire extinguisher, smoke detector and noise monitoring system, issued by the owner of the dwelling, along with photographs

After you successfully complete the registration process, a registration number will be assigned to your tourist accommodation (Example: G000000).

    National registration requirements

    In order to host in Spain, you may also have the obligation to obtain a national registration number within the Property Registry and display it when listing your properties on Airbnb.

    Review this article for further information on your national registration obligations and other relevant topics.

    Advertising requirements

    Cantabria requires you to display your registration number, as well as the conditions regarding the reservation policy, on any form of advertisement for your tourist accommodations, including when you list your accommodation on Airbnb. There’s a field you can use to include your registration number in the Listing details.

    Also, in Cantabria it is mandatory to display an official plaque issued by the tourism authorities in a visible place next to the main entrance of the accommodation.

    Additional information

    To learn more about how Cantabria tourist accommodation regulations may be applicable to you or to your property, you can contact the Territorial Delegation of Culture, Tourism, and Sport.

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