Short-Term Rentals Face State Control: Registry, Penalties, and Ban Zones Starting in September

Poland is introducing strict new regulations for short-term rentals starting in September, bringing mandatory registries, heavy fines, and local ban zones as the market faces increasing state oversight.

Short-term rentals come under state control

Short-term rentals in Poland are set to operate under entirely new rules as the Sejm begins work on legislation that brings these properties under hotel regulations for the first time. The framework includes a mandatory registry, penalties reaching tens of thousands of zloti, and zones where daily rentals will be banned entirely. While the government frames this as a matter of order and security, Spain’s long-standing experience shows that a registry alone does not solve housing issues.

A market that outpaced data tracking

Short-term rentals in Poland grew faster than the state’s ability to track them, with Eurostat data showing a nearly 190 percent increase in reservations over eight years. Between 2023 and 2025, Kraków recorded a 41 percent surge, placing it second in Europe behind Rome. This expansion amounts to approximately 44 million online-booked overnight stays annually across the country.

What the new legislation introduces

Project UC135, prepared by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, was submitted to the Sejm on July 22 with legislative work accelerating in September. Key measures include the Central Register of Tourist Accommodation Facilities (CWTON) to replace municipal records, treating stays under 30 days as hotel services, and enforcing the “6 and 30” rule for fire safety requirements. Furthermore, municipalities will gain the power to designate zones where short-term rentals are banned, backed by administrative penalties and deregistration.

Spain’s long regulatory battle offers mixed lessons

Poland looks to Spain for precedent, but the lessons are ambiguous after Spain’s Supreme Court annulled a mandatory registration number requirement for exceeding state competencies. Experts note that central registries are often redundant compared to what local governments build, and effectiveness depends on tailoring measures to specific local realities rather than applying uniform state policies.

Why registries fail to lower rental prices in Barcelona

In Barcelona, despite regulations and license caps implemented since 2012, long-term rental rates doubled and property sales prices rose significantly over twelve years. Experts emphasize that licensing does not automatically lower rents unless paired with broader housing policies, and overly restrictive rules can inadvertently discourage property owners from offering long-term leases.

Politics, local governance, and shifting investor strategies

Decisions in Spain have increasingly shifted to local communities and municipalities, which now hold powers to restrict new licenses or enact embargoes. Facing these stricter rules, real estate investors are adapting by shifting away from traditional Airbnb models toward medium-term and seasonal rentals targeting digital nomads and remote workers.

Implications for property owners in Poland

For property owners in Poland, the Spanish lesson highlights that a registry is an administrative tool rather than a cure for expensive housing. With the implementation of CWTON, safety regulations, and potential ban zones approaching, operators can no longer rely on intuition and must factor the full cost of regulation into their investments.