Valencia imposes strict limits on tourist rentals — Euronews
Following in Barcelona’s footsteps, another popular Spanish tourist destination—Valencia—has announced drastic restrictions on the short-term rental market.
Euronews Travel reports on this.
The city council has approved new zoning regulations aimed at protecting the interests of local residents and halting the rise in real estate prices.
Under the new regulations, the number of vacation rentals in any given district or neighborhood of the city may not exceed 2% of the total housing stock.
This decision effectively closes the door on opening new tourist facilities in the city’s central areas, where this limit has long been exhausted.
Valencia Mayor María José Catalá emphasized that the city aims to move away from the model of mass budget tourism in favor of sustainable development.
According to her, these restrictions will ensure that 98% of all housing in the city is used for its intended purpose—as residences for citizens.
In addition to the percentage of housing units, a demographic threshold is being introduced: the number of tourist accommodations in a neighborhood must not exceed 8% of the number of officially registered residents.
In this way, the authorities are attempting to balance the strain on infrastructure and preserve the traditional way of life in the neighborhoods.
Additional restrictions also apply to the ground floors of residential buildings, which are often converted to accommodate travelers.
From now on, only 15% of commercial space in residential areas may be used for accommodating guests, while the remaining 85% must remain socially significant facilities.
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Spain has responded to Trump’s threats to halt trade.
