Tourist License
According to Spanish regulations, to legally rent a property for short-term stays, you need to have a tourist license. A tourist license is simply a permit issued by the corresponding autonomous community for a property within a specific urbanization, with a specific number and technical parameters, in the name of the owner.
To apply for the license at the Town Hall or Municipal Office, you need to gather the necessary documents, including the NIE number, the property deed, a cadastral register extract, and, according to current regulations, also the consent of the homeowners' association for tourist rentals.
Usually, a property with one bedroom is licensed for two guests, while a property with two bedrooms is licensed for four guests. Popular platforms such as Booking require the license numbers and detailed specifications to prepare a short-term rental offer on their platform.
Regulations state that every tourist staying at your property must be registered electronically with the Guardia Civil after the property has been registered and a registration number has been assigned at the Guardia Civil station.
Short-term rentals are considered rentals of up to 10 days. If you plan to rent on a medium- or long-term basis, you do not need a tourist license, but this does not exempt you from fulfilling certain rental obligations, such as paying taxes.
Remember also that some cities in the Costa Blanca area do not issue tourist licenses or significantly complicate their issuance.
You cannot obtain a license in:
Alicante (except for property partners of urbanizations)
Valencia (except for property partners of urbanizations)
Altea
Polop
La Nucia
L'Alfàs del Pi
Guardamar del Segura