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Create my bookAirbnb regulations in Saint-Étienne: what the Le Meur Law changes from 2025
A UNESCO Creative City and former industrial capital of the Loire, Saint-Etienne offers a very flexible regulatory framework for short-term rentals. With property prices among the lowest of major French cities and tourist traffic driven by design, mining heritage and the International Biennale, the city has not seen the need to tighten its rules.
120 days
Annual limit
50 000 €
Maximum fine
Not required
Compensation
Rental day limit in Saint-Étienne
In Saint-Étienne, primary residences can only be rented as vacation accommodation for 120 days per year. Saint-Etienne maintains the legal cap of 120 days per year for renting out a primary residence. With rental market pressure significantly lower than in coastal or Parisian metropolises, the municipality is not considering a reduction of this threshold. The Saint-Etienne property market remains accessible, with an average price per square meter among the lowest in France.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo) must block listings in Saint-Étienne beyond 120 days. Any excess exposes the owner to a fine of up to 50 000 €.
Usage change and compensation in Saint-Étienne
To convert a property into a vacation rental in Saint-Étienne, a usage change authorization is required. Compensation: Not required.
Saint-Etienne does not require any compensation for converting a dwelling into furnished tourist accommodation. As the rental market is not classified as a high-demand area in the same way as Lyon or Paris, the municipality has chosen not to impose this additional constraint on property owners. Rental vacancy remains a more significant concern than housing shortages.
Quotas and restrictions in Saint-Étienne
No quota
No quotas or restrictive zoning are in effect in Saint-Etienne. The city has a significant stock of vacant housing, particularly in the former working-class neighborhoods of Montreynaud, Beaubrun and Tarentaize. Tourist rentals are seen as a lever for revitalizing certain areas undergoing redevelopment.
Fines and enforcement in Saint-Étienne
In Saint-Étienne, property owners in violation face fines of up to 50 000 €.
Legal fines apply: up to €10,000 for failure to register and €50,000 for change of use violations. In practice, inspections remain limited in Saint-Etienne, as the municipal priority is more focused on combating substandard housing and rehabilitating deteriorated co-ownership buildings.
Specific rules in Saint-Étienne
- Mandatory city hall registration with a registration number
- No compensation required for change of use
- No quotas or geographic restrictions on furnished tourist accommodation
- Tourist tax collected by platforms and remitted to Saint-Etienne Metropole
- Recommended to verify energy performance certificate compliance before listing
Energy rating (DPE): The Saint-Etienne housing stock includes many 19th-century buildings from the industrial era, as well as social housing from the 1960s-1970s. Many are rated DPE E, F or G. Energy renovation programs such as the Action Coeur de Ville initiative help owners improve the performance of their properties.
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, Saint-Etienne offers a very flexible framework. No compensation is required, there are no quotas and the limit is 120 days per year for the primary residence. The only obligation is city hall registration to obtain a number to display on listings.
The most popular neighborhoods are the city center around Place Jean Jaures, the Cite du Design area at the former Manufrance site, and the Chateaucreux district near the TGV station. Proximity to the Museum of Modern Art and Geoffroy-Guichard stadium is also an asset for listings.
Potentially yes. The older housing stock in Saint-Etienne includes many energy-inefficient properties. Properties rated G can no longer be rented as furnished tourist accommodation since 2025, and F-rated ones will follow in 2028. Renovation grants are available through the Action Coeur de Ville program.
Demand is moderate but growing, driven by the International Design Biennale, ASSE matches at Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, the Museum of Modern Art and proximity to the Pilat Regional Natural Park. Cultural events generate interesting peaks in visitor numbers for hosts.
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