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Create my bookAirbnb regulations in Honfleur: what the Le Meur Law changes from 2025
Honfleur, a jewel of Calvados nestled at the mouth of the Seine, attracts thousands of visitors each year, drawn by its Vieux Bassin, its half-timbered houses and the distinctive light that inspired the Impressionists. The town, ranked among the most beautiful ports in France, faces considerable seasonal rental pressure that threatens the residential balance of its historic neighborhoods such as the Enclos and Sainte-Catherine. The municipality has established a regulatory framework governing short-term rentals to preserve local life throughout the year, particularly in the picturesque alleyways leading to the Lieutenance and around Place Sainte-Catherine.
120 days
Annual limit
50 000 €
Maximum fine
From the 2nd property
Compensation
Rental day limit in Honfleur
In Honfleur, primary residences can only be rented as vacation accommodation for 120 days per year. Primary residences located in Honfleur may be rented as furnished tourist accommodations up to 120 days per calendar year. This cap applies uniformly, whether the property is near the Vieux Bassin, in the Plateau neighborhood or on the heights of the Côte de Grâce. An overnight stay counter is maintained by the booking platform and transmitted to the city hall upon request.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo) must block listings in Honfleur beyond 120 days. Any excess exposes the owner to a fine of up to 50 000 €.
Usage change and compensation in Honfleur
To convert a property into a vacation rental in Honfleur, a usage change authorization is required. Compensation: From the 2nd property.
In Honfleur, compensation is required starting from the rental of the second property as a furnished tourist accommodation. The owner must then convert an equivalent area into residential housing within the municipal boundaries. This measure aims to maintain the permanent housing stock in a town where the year-round population barely exceeds 7,000 residents, faced with an ever-expanding tourist offering around the port and the jetty.
Quotas and restrictions in Honfleur
No
Honfleur has not established a quota system limiting the total number of tourist rentals. Regulation relies on the compensation mechanism from the second property onward and the 120-day cap for primary residences. The city hall nevertheless monitors the concentration of seasonal rentals within the historic perimeter, between the Jardin Retrouvé and the Saint-Léonard church.
Fines and enforcement in Honfleur
In Honfleur, property owners in violation face fines of up to 50 000 €.
Non-compliance with tourist rental regulations in Honfleur exposes the property owner to a civil fine of up to €50,000. Offenses include exceeding the 120-day cap, failure to register with the city hall or failure to compensate for a second property. Inspections are increased during the peak summer season and the May bank holiday weekends.
Specific rules in Honfleur
- Every property rented as a tourist accommodation in Honfleur must be registered with the city hall and display its registration number on each listing, including properties located in the alleyways of the Enclos neighborhood.
- Owners of secondary residences wishing to rent near the Vieux Bassin or the transit jetty must obtain a change of use authorization issued by the municipal urban planning department.
- The tourist tax is collected by platforms on behalf of the Pays de Honfleur-Beuzeville community of municipalities and must appear separately on each invoice issued to the guest.
- Noise disturbances related to tourist rental activity are governed by a specific municipal decree, with particular attention to properties overlooking the port and Place Arthur Boudin.
- Mandatory display of house rules and waste sorting instructions must be visible in each tourist rental, in accordance with the directives of the community of municipalities.
Energy rating (DPE): Since January 1, 2025, every tourist rental offered in Honfleur must have a valid DPE. Properties rated F or G can no longer be listed for seasonal rental in new applications. The older buildings of the Vieux Bassin and the Sainte-Catherine neighborhood, often listed, may benefit from heritage exemptions under certain conditions.
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, every property offered for short-term rental in Honfleur must be the subject of a prior declaration to the city hall. A registration number is assigned and must appear on all listings published online. This requirement applies to apartments in the historic center as well as houses located on the heights of the Côte de Grâce.
The primary residence can be rented as a furnished tourist accommodation for up to 120 days per calendar year. Beyond that, the property is reclassified as a secondary residence and subject to change of use requirements. Booking platforms automatically block reservations once this threshold is reached.
Compensation becomes mandatory starting from the second property put on the tourist rental market. The owner of a single secondary residence property is not subject to this rule, but must still obtain a change of use authorization. For the second property and beyond, an equivalent area must be converted into residential housing within the municipality.
Property owners in violation face a civil fine of up to €50,000. The Honfleur city hall may also order the property to be returned to residential use under daily penalty. Inspections focus on the tourist perimeter around the Vieux Bassin, the Lieutenance and the Eugène Boudin museum.
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