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Create my bookAirbnb regulations in Pau: what the Le Meur Law changes from 2025
A royal city at the foot of the Pyrenees, Pau captivates with its Boulevard des Pyrénées offering a unique panorama of the mountain range and the château where Henri IV was born. Vacation rental regulations reflect the desire to balance tourist appeal linked to the Béarnais heritage, nearby ski resorts, and the motor racing circuit, with the permanent housing needs of a metropolitan area of 160,000 inhabitants. The Hédas quarter and the historic center concentrate most of the seasonal demand.
120 days
Annual limit
50 000 €
Maximum fine
Not required
Compensation
Rental day limit in Pau
In Pau, primary residences can only be rented as vacation accommodation for 120 days per year. In Pau, renting a primary residence as a vacation rental is permitted up to 120 days per calendar year. This rule applies to all city neighborhoods, from the historic center around the château to the residential areas of Trespoey and Jurançon. The night counter resets on January 1, and booking platforms are required to automatically block listings once the cap is reached.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo) must block listings in Pau beyond 120 days. Any excess exposes the owner to a fine of up to 50 000 €.
Usage change and compensation in Pau
To convert a property into a vacation rental in Pau, a usage change authorization is required. Compensation: Not required.
Pau does not require compensation from owners wishing to rent their property as a vacation rental. This policy is explained by a housing market that remains more affordable compared to major French cities and by significant rental vacancy in some peripheral neighborhoods. Owners in the Fouchet-Tourasse quarter as well as those in the University area can offer their property without compensation constraints.
Quotas and restrictions in Pau
No quotas established
The city of Pau has not implemented quotas limiting the number of vacation rentals. The supply remains moderate relative to the size of the municipality and is mainly concentrated along the Boulevard des Pyrénées and in the pedestrian city center. The municipality remains watchful regarding the evolution of the stock in the historic Hédas quarter, recently renovated and now particularly attractive to visitors.
Fines and enforcement in Pau
In Pau, property owners in violation face fines of up to 50 000 €.
Violators of Pau's vacation rental regulations face fines of up to €50,000. The most common offenses are failure to register and exceeding the authorized day cap. The Pau city hall services collaborate with digital platforms to identify non-compliant listings, particularly during peak periods such as the Pau Grand Prix or winter holidays linked to nearby Pyrenean ski resorts.
Specific rules in Pau
- Vacation rental registration is mandatory with the Pau city hall, whether the property is in the château quarter, on the Boulevard des Pyrénées, or in the residential areas of the upper town.
- The registration number must be displayed on all online listings and communicated to guests upon booking, in accordance with legal obligations applicable within the Pau Béarn Pyrénées metropolitan area.
- Short-term rentals in condominiums in the historic center must comply with condominium rules, particularly in the bourgeois buildings of the Trespoey quarter where use restrictions frequently exist.
- The tourist tax is due for each night and must be remitted to the Pau Béarn Pyrénées metropolitan area, which funds the destination's tourist infrastructure, including the funicular connecting the station to the Boulevard des Pyrénées.
- Properties within the protected perimeter around the Château d'Henri IV and the Saint-Jacques church are subject to the Architecte des Bâtiments de France's review for any exterior modification.
Energy rating (DPE): Energy performance certification is required for all vacation rentals in Pau. The city's mountain climate, with cool winters, makes thermal performance particularly important. Old buildings in the city center, built from Jurançon stone, may require significant insulation investment to meet current standards and comfortably accommodate guests in all seasons.
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
Registration is done online via the national registration service. You receive a unique number to display on your listings. Owners in the city center as well as those in peripheral neighborhoods like Ousse-des-Bois or Idron follow the same procedure. Processing time is generally a few business days.
The primary residence can be rented for a maximum of 120 days per year. This cap is particularly monitored during major events like the Pau automobile Grand Prix or the ski season in nearby Pyrenean resorts. Beyond that, the property must be declared as a secondary residence with the associated obligations.
For a primary residence rented within the 120-day limit, no change of use is required. Pau does not impose compensation either, simplifying the process. However, converting a commercial space into a vacation rental in the pedestrian quarter requires a specific planning permit.
Fines can reach €50,000 for the most serious offenses. Failure to register, renting without a registration number, or exceeding the day cap are the main violations. The city of Pau has intensified its inspections since the creation of the national registration service, with enhanced monitoring of listings in the tourist area around the château and the Hédas.
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