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90days/yearNot a blanket limit, but a permit thresholdUrbanHome · News · Canton of Vaud
Airbnb in Lausanne 2026: 90-day rule, permits and registration requirements
Anyone renting out an apartment or room in Lausanne through Airbnb or Booking.com in 2026 must register with the city and keep a guest register. The 90-day rule in the canton of Vaud is not a blanket rental cap: for certain previously rented apartments, offering short stays for more than 90 days a year triggers a prior change-of-use permit requirement. This guide explains how registration, permits, landlord consent and Lausanne’s CHF 3 per person per night tourist tax fit together.
Author: Nikita von Niederhäuser, UrbanHome real estate expertUpdated: · Reading time: approx. 15 minutes
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10Days beforehandHosts should register their activity in advance03
CHF 3per person/nightLausanne tourist tax for apartments and studios04
262COSubletting requires the necessary landlord consentThe key distinction
90 days is a permit threshold, not a blanket ban.
Lausanne is in the canton of Vaud. Cantonal housing protection aims to prevent apartments previously offered on the regular rental market from being permanently removed from it. Whether a permit is needed depends on the previous use, the housing-shortage area and statutory exemptions.
Lausanne · Vaud · Airbnb · 2026
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Up to 90 days
Short-term letting is not automatically permit-free
Offering accommodation for up to 90 days per calendar year does not generally trigger this particular LPPPL permit threshold. Registration, a guest register, landlord consent, tourist tax and any building rules still apply independently. [1]
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More than 90 days
Obtain change-of-use approval where required
If an apartment was previously rented on the regular housing market and is to be offered to tourists for more than 90 days in an area with a housing shortage, a prior change-of-use permit is required when the LPPPL applies. [2]
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Days offered, not just bookings
Count the periods offered for rent
What matters is the planned availability during the calendar year, even if not every advertised day is actually booked. Platform calendars, listings and booking records should be kept consistent. [2]
Permits · LPPPL / RLPPPL
Do you need a permit for Airbnb in Lausanne?
Not every property is treated alike: the 90-day threshold concerns certain apartments previously let on the regular rental market. Registration and change-of-use authorisation are two separate procedures.
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Rental housing subject to protection
Over 90 days: prior authorisation
For housing covered by cantonal protection and previously let on the regular market, offering tourist accommodation for more than 90 days in a housing-shortage area is subject to a permit. [1]
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Application QP 53
Apply through the municipal housing office
For a property requiring authorisation, a reasoned request using the special QP 53 questionnaire is submitted to the municipality. The canton decides after receiving the municipality’s opinion. [6]
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Statutory exemptions
Check ownership and property characteristics
The LPPPL provides exemptions, including for certain formerly owner-occupied homes, smaller buildings and apartments with at least 150 m² of net living area. Whether an exemption applies must be assessed for each property. [2]
Important: Letting for more than 90 days is not automatically authorised simply because Airbnb accepts a listing. Equally, stays after day 90 are not universally prohibited. The competent authority assesses the particular property and its use.
Registration · City of Lausanne
Registering an Airbnb: how to notify the City of Lausanne
Since 1 July 2022, hosts in the canton of Vaud have had to notify the municipality of their short-term rental activity. Lausanne maintains a municipal register of accommodation providers. [1]
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Before the first booking
Register at least ten days in advance
The Union des Communes Vaudoises generally calls for registration at least ten days before the first overnight stay. This leaves time for checks and follow-up questions. [5]
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City registration form
Complete a separate form for each property
The City publishes the “Annonce au Registre communal des loueurs” form. It requests, among other details, the owner, property address, capacity and platforms used. [3]
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Submission
Send the form by email to the City
Send the completed form to [email protected] . Tenants should enclose copies of the lease and landlord’s consent. [3]
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Ongoing activity
Document guests, dates and charges
In addition to registration, hosts must keep a guest register and deal correctly with tourist tax. The municipality may request documents for inspections. [1]
Official registration form: Registre communal des loueurs – City of Lausanne (PDF). Change-of-use applications follow a separate QP 53 procedure.
Tenants · Owners · LUP
Who may rent out a home on Airbnb in Lausanne?
Cantonal registration requirements apply alongside tenancy agreements, private-law rules and housing protection.
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TenantsObtain consent before subletting
Under Article 262 of the Swiss Code of Obligations and Article 22 RULV, prior landlord consent is important. The canton of Vaud refers to a 30-day period for the landlord’s response after receiving the request. [2]
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OwnersCheck the authorised use
Owners must check the permitted use of their property. Regular tourist letting may trigger building or change-of-use requirements; condominium regulations may also apply. [6]
LUP
Affordable housing (LUP)Particularly strict restrictions
The City of Lausanne states that tenants of public-interest housing (LUP) may not sublet these apartments through Airbnb or comparable platforms. [10]
Tourist tax · Taxes
How much is the Airbnb tourist tax in Lausanne in 2026?
Lausanne has its own municipal regulations for tourist accommodation. For apartments, studios and similar category 6 properties, the published rate is CHF 3 per person per night. [4]
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Category 6
CHF 3 per person and night
Lausanne’s tourist-tax regulations, dated 1 January 2025, set CHF 3 per guest and night for category 6 apartments, villas, studios and similar properties. Example: 2 people × 4 nights = CHF 24. [4]
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Airbnb and UCV
Check automatic collection
Under an agreement with the Union des Communes Vaudoises (UCV), Airbnb automatically collects CHF 3 per person per night in participating Vaud municipalities. Other platforms and direct bookings may have different payment arrangements. [5]
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Other charging methods
Annual flat rate and longer stays
For separately assessed category 6 properties, the regulations also provide an annual flat charge of CHF 300 per unit for up to 100 overnight stays, with additional provisions. Continuous stays longer than a month fall under category 7, at CHF 37 per person and month. [4]
Avoid double charging: Before charging guests, check whether the platform already collects the tourist tax. The city may require special procedures depending on category and collection method. Income tax on rental earnings is separate; rental and platform income generally has to be declared for tax purposes.
Guest reporting · ID checks
Guest register: what must Airbnb hosts report?
Vaud law requires a guest register for short-term rentals, including private hosts letting an apartment or a room. [1]
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Every person accommodated
Record all guests
The guest register must include the persons accommodated. The canton expressly requires copies of an identity card or passport. [1]
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Length of stay
Record arrival and departure
The exact dates of accommodation must be traceable. The information helps the authorities monitor usage and reporting duties. [1]
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Data protection
Keep guest data securely
Personal data and ID copies should only be processed to the necessary extent and under applicable data-protection rules. Clarify retention, access and deletion within your operation. [1]
Before publishing
Airbnb checklist for Lausanne 2026
Private and professional hosts should check these ten points before their first booking.
Was the apartment previously let on the regular rental market, or did it have another permitted use?
For how many days per calendar year will the property be offered for short stays?
Is the apartment subject to the LPPPL in an area with a housing shortage?
If more than 90 days are planned, is a change-of-use permit with QP 53 required?
If you are a tenant, have you obtained the landlord’s consent?
Has the municipal registration form been filed in time for each property?
Is a guest register that meets data-protection rules in place?
Is tourist tax correctly calculated and, if applicable, already collected by Airbnb?
Are income, platform statements and other taxes documented?
Have insurance, house rules, fire safety and condominium regulations been checked?
Official sources
Legal basis and status
Research status: 30 October 2026. The main references are the LEAE, LPPPL/RLPPPL and Lausanne’s tourist-tax regulations (official version as at 1 January 2025).
- Canton of Vaud: Airbnb rules (LEAE, registration, guest list, 90 days) [French]
- Canton of Vaud: Airbnb, RLPPPL, exemptions and RULV [French]
- City of Lausanne: official registration form (PDF in French)
- City of Lausanne: tourist-tax regulations, 1 January 2025 (PDF in French)
- Union des Communes Vaudoises: Airbnb and tourist-tax collection [French]
- Canton of Vaud: change-of-use authorisation and QP 53 [French]
- Federal Office for Housing: short-term rentals and booking platforms [French]
- Fedlex: Article 262 Swiss Code of Obligations, subletting
- Canton of Vaud: 2025 review of regulation [French]
- City of Lausanne: guidance on subletting and Airbnb [French]
Legal notice: This article provides general information, not a binding assessment of an individual case. Cantonal permits, municipal building rules and private rights of use must be assessed separately for each property.
UrbanHome · direct answer
Frequently asked questions about Airbnb in Lausanne 2026
The main questions about short-term rentals in the canton of Vaud.
14FAQ
Yes, but not as a blanket ban. For certain apartments previously let on the regular market in housing-shortage areas, making them available for more than 90 days per calendar year requires a prior change-of-use permit.
Not generally. Under Vaud housing protection, 90 days mainly marks a permit threshold. The competent authority decides whether a change of use may be approved in the individual case.
No. Counting only booked nights is risky. Planned availability during the calendar year is relevant, including periods publicly offered on booking platforms.
Yes. Hosts in Vaud must notify their activity. Lausanne provides a separate municipal registration form for each property.
The City of Lausanne’s form can be emailed to [email protected]. Tenants are asked to enclose a copy of their lease and the landlord’s consent.
Vaud’s reporting rules generally provide for registration at least ten days before the first overnight stay. Hosts should therefore register early.
For certain former rental apartments covered by Vaud housing protection, offering short-term stays for more than 90 days a year requires prior approval for a change of use. Building and land-use regulations must also be checked.
Yes. Cantonal rules require a guest register covering the people accommodated, exact stay dates and a copy of an identity card or passport.
The municipal tourist-tax regulations, as at 1 January 2025, set CHF 3 per person per night for category 6 apartments, studios and similar accommodation. Different collection arrangements and exemptions are regulated separately.
In participating Vaud municipalities, Airbnb collects tourist tax directly under an agreement with the UCV. Hosts must still meet registration duties and check the charge on their booking statement.
Only with the landlord’s required consent. Article 262 CO and the additional Vaud RULV rules apply. The canton refers to a 30-day period for the landlord’s response after receiving the request.
The City of Lausanne states that tenants of public-interest housing (LUP) may not sublet it through Airbnb. Special tenancy and subsidy conditions are decisive.
The circumstances must also be checked for letting part of an apartment. Cantonal registration and guest-register duties apply to both whole-home and partial short-term letting.
For a previously let apartment, the reasoned QP 53 request goes via the municipality or municipal housing office to the cantonal Direction du logement. The owner generally submits the application.
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Key points
Conclusion: permits, registration and guest records matter in Lausanne
Airbnb letting in Lausanne is not generally limited to 90 days. However, for certain former rental apartments in housing-shortage areas, short-term availability for more than 90 days requires a permit. Hosts must independently notify their activity, keep guest records, check landlord consent and pay the appropriate tourist tax. Clarifying the rules before publishing reduces legal and financial risks.
Lausanne property search
Find rental apartments in Lausanne on UrbanHome
Looking for a rental apartment in Lausanne or the canton of Vaud? On UrbanHome you can compare available properties and narrow your search to Lausanne. If you already rent an apartment and want to sublet it for short stays, check landlord consent and local rules first.
LausanneCanton of VaudUrbanHome