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Create my bookAirbnb regulations in Annecy: what the Le Meur Law changes from 2025
Nicknamed the "Venice of the Alps" for its canals running through the old town, Annecy is one of France's most popular tourist destinations thanks to its crystal-clear lake and surrounding mountains. The city of 130,000 inhabitants (new municipality) faces considerable real estate pressure, amplified by its proximity to Geneva. Strict vacation rental regulations aim to preserve housing access for permanent residents, in a market where prices per square meter rival those of major cities.
90 days
Annual limit
50 000 €
Maximum fine
Mandatory
Compensation
Rental day limit in Annecy
In Annecy, primary residences can only be rented as vacation accommodation for 90 days per year. Annecy caps primary residence vacation rental at 90 days per year. This restrictive threshold is due to the exceptional real estate pressure the city faces, heightened by the lake's appeal and proximity to the Swiss border. The 90-day cap is monitored via the registration service and platforms automatically block listings beyond this limit. This threshold protects the residential stock of a city where affordable housing is a major issue.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo) must block listings in Annecy beyond 90 days. Any excess exposes the owner to a fine of up to 50 000 €.
Usage change and compensation in Annecy
To convert a property into a vacation rental in Annecy, a usage change authorization is required. Compensation: Mandatory.
Compensation is mandatory in Annecy for any change of use to a vacation rental. Each square meter removed from the residential stock must be compensated by creating equivalent housing in the same area. This constraint is particularly burdensome in the old town, along the Thiou canal and the lake quays, where available space is scarce and prices prohibitive. The measure reflects the municipal determination to fight the eviction of permanent residents.
Quotas and restrictions in Annecy
Quotas in the old town
The old town of Annecy is subject to quotas limiting the number of vacation rentals. The affected perimeter encompasses the Palais de l'Île, the arcades of Rue Sainte-Claire, the Thiou canal quays, the Château d'Annecy, and adjacent streets up to Le Pâquier. This area, which concentrates most of the tourist appeal with its colorful houses and canals, has seen its resident population decline significantly in favor of short-term rentals. The freeze on new authorizations aims to reverse this trend.
Fines and enforcement in Annecy
In Annecy, property owners in violation face fines of up to 50 000 €.
Fines for violations of Annecy regulations can reach €50,000. The city of Annecy has established a dedicated enforcement team that permanently monitors booking platforms. Inspections are intensified during the summer season, when the lake and old town attract considerable crowds, as well as in winter for the clientele of ski resorts in the Aravis valley and Le Semnoz.
Specific rules in Annecy
- Registration is mandatory and compensation is required for any change of use, with strict quotas in the old town around the Palais de l'Île and the Thiou canal.
- The 90-day cap for primary residences is one of the most restrictive in France, justified by the intense real estate pressure linked to the lake and proximity to Switzerland.
- The old town is subject to a freeze on new vacation rental authorizations, directing investors toward the delegated municipalities of Annecy-le-Vieux, Cran-Gevrier, or Seynod.
- The tourist tax is collected and remitted to Grand Annecy, which funds the maintenance of the lakeshore, nautical facilities, and water quality preservation.
- Owners must verify their property's compliance with fire safety standards, particularly in old town buildings where narrow staircases and wooden structures require special precautions.
Energy rating (DPE): Energy performance certification is mandatory for all Annecy vacation rentals. The old town buildings, constructed between the 15th and 18th centuries along the canals, often have limited energy performance. Annecy's semi-continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers, requires effective insulation. Renovations in the old town conservation area are supervised by the Architecte des Bâtiments de France.
Le Meur Law: the complete guide for property owners
Discover all measures of the Le Meur Law 2025: taxation, energy ratings, national registration, co-ownership, and mayoral powers.
See also: regulations in nearby cities
Frequently asked questions
Quotas in the old town make obtaining a new change-of-use authorization very difficult. Primary residence rental remains possible within the 90-day per year limit with registration. For a vacation rental investment, delegated municipalities like Annecy-le-Vieux or neighborhoods farther from the center offer more possibilities.
Real estate pressure in Annecy is among the highest in France outside Paris, driven by the lake's appeal, proximity to Geneva, and surrounding ski resorts. The 90-day cap aims to slow the conversion of the residential stock into seasonal accommodation, in a city where the average price per square meter exceeds that of many regional capitals.
Yes, the cost of compensation is very high in Annecy, particularly in the old town and neighborhoods near the lake. The scarcity of convertible commercial space and land prices make this obligation financially burdensome. It is a deliberate brake on the proliferation of vacation rentals in the most pressured areas.
Annecy benefits from exceptional dual seasonality: lake and water sports tourism in summer, skiing at the Aravis and Semnoz resorts in winter. The old town, the lake, and surrounding mountains guarantee sustained rental demand. The International Animated Film Festival in June and the Christmas market also generate attendance peaks.
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