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Create my bookAirbnb regulations in Avignon: what the Le Meur Law changes from 2025
City of the Popes and world capital of theater during its summer festival, Avignon has implemented strengthened regulations to govern short-term vacation rentals. The city requires compensation starting from the second property and restricts new authorizations in its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
120 days
Annual limit
50 000 €
Maximum fine
From the 2nd property
Compensation
Rental day limit in Avignon
In Avignon, primary residences can only be rented as vacation accommodation for 120 days per year. Avignon applies the 120-day per year cap for primary residences. However, the city has introduced significant additional measures, particularly within the walled city, to limit the impact of short-term rentals on a housing market put under pressure every summer by the Festival d'Avignon.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo) must block listings in Avignon beyond 120 days. Any excess exposes the owner to a fine of up to 50 000 €.
Usage change and compensation in Avignon
To convert a property into a vacation rental in Avignon, a usage change authorization is required. Compensation: From the 2nd property.
Avignon requires compensation starting from the second property converted into a short-term vacation rental. The owner must offset the residential space removed from the market by providing an equivalent dwelling within the municipality. The first property remains exempt to protect small owners who rent occasionally during the festival.
Quotas and restrictions in Avignon
Restrictions in the walled historic center
Avignon has established specific restrictions within the walled historic center, limiting new change-of-use authorizations. The area enclosed by the ramparts, including the Palais des Papes and the Pont Saint-Bénézet, is subject to particular scrutiny.
Fines and enforcement in Avignon
In Avignon, property owners in violation face fines of up to 50 000 €.
The fine for non-compliance with regulations can reach €50,000 in Avignon. Inspections are intensified during the Festival d'Avignon in July, a period when many properties are listed on platforms without prior authorization.
Specific rules in Avignon
- Compensation mandatory starting from the second property converted into a short-term vacation rental
- Restrictions on new authorizations in the walled historic center
- Municipal registration mandatory with the registration number displayed on listings
- Increased inspections during the Festival d'Avignon in July
- Buildings within the UNESCO-listed walled city are subject to strict review by the Architecte des Bâtiments de France
Energy rating (DPE): The walled city of Avignon is full of private mansions and medieval buildings with thick cut-stone walls. While these structures offer good thermal inertia in summer, they often lack modern insulation and present unfavorable energy performance ratings, especially for winter heating.
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
Yes, but with restrictions. New change-of-use authorizations are limited within the walled city, and compensation is required starting from the second property.
The festival increases housing pressure and has motivated the tightening of regulations. Inspections are particularly intense in July to track down undeclared rentals.
The primary residence can be rented for a maximum of 120 days per year. Beyond that, or for a secondary residence, a change-of-use authorization is required.
No, the first property is exempt. Compensation applies starting from the second property converted into a short-term vacation rental in Avignon.
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