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Create my bookAirbnb regulations in Saint-Jean-de-Luz: what the Le Meur Law changes from 2025
A jewel of the Basque coast, Saint-Jean-de-Luz enchants visitors with its sheltered bay, its colourful half-timbered Labourdin houses and its heritage linked to the wedding of Louis XIV. This municipality of 14,000 inhabitants, tucked between La Rhune mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, faces intense property pressure, amplified by the attractiveness of the Basque Country. Short-term rental regulations are particularly strict here to preserve housing access for permanent residents against soaring prices.
90 days
Annual limit
50 000 €
Maximum fine
Mandatory
Compensation
Rental day limit in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, primary residences can only be rented as vacation accommodation for 90 days per year. Saint-Jean-de-Luz has adopted a cap of 90 days per calendar year for renting primary residences as tourist accommodation. This more restrictive threshold responds to the extreme tension in the local property market. The count begins on 1 January and includes all cumulative nights, with strict monitoring by municipal services.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo) must block listings in Saint-Jean-de-Luz beyond 90 days. Any excess exposes the owner to a fine of up to 50 000 €.
Usage change and compensation in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
To convert a property into a vacation rental in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a usage change authorization is required. Compensation: Mandatory.
Compensation is mandatory in Saint-Jean-de-Luz for any property other than the primary residence offered as tourist rental. The owner must return an equivalent residential floor area to the long-term rental market within the municipality. This requirement applies in all neighbourhoods, from the historic centre around the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church to the Acotz neighbourhood and Pointe Sainte-Barbe.
Quotas and restrictions in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Town centre
Quotas are in place in the town centre of Saint-Jean-de-Luz to limit the concentration of tourist rentals. The number of authorisations is capped in the perimeter from Rue Gambetta to the beach, passing through the port and Place Louis XIV. The town hall may refuse new applications if the threshold is reached in a given area.
Fines and enforcement in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, property owners in violation face fines of up to 50 000 €.
Violations of tourist rental regulations in Saint-Jean-de-Luz are sanctioned by a civil fine of up to €50,000. Non-compliance with mandatory compensation, exceeding the 90-day cap and failure to register are the main prosecuted offences. The municipality has a dedicated enforcement service.
Specific rules in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Mandatory registration at the Saint-Jean-de-Luz town hall with issuance of an identification number to be displayed on all online and offline listings.
- Mandatory compensation for any property other than the primary residence, with proof of returning an equivalent floor area to the long-term market.
- Compliance with town centre quotas: check authorisation availability with the urban planning department before any application.
- Architectural compliance of properties in the protected area of the historic centre, with approval by the Architecte des Bâtiments de France for exterior work.
- Tourist tax collected and remitted to the Pays Basque agglomeration authority according to procedures and rates specific to the local area.
Energy rating (DPE): Tourist rentals in Saint-Jean-de-Luz must have an EPC that meets current standards. Properties rated F or G have been excluded from short-term rental since 1 January 2025. Traditional Labourdin houses in the historic centre, with their thick stone walls, often offer good natural thermal performance but must nevertheless have an up-to-date certificate.
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
The Saint-Jean-de-Luz property market is among the tightest in France, with very high prices per square metre and a shortage of housing for permanent residents. The 90-day cap, below the national maximum, aims to discourage the mass conversion of housing into tourist rentals and to maintain a year-round resident population.
For any property other than a primary residence rented as tourist accommodation, you must compensate by returning an equivalent residential floor area to the long-term rental market within the municipality. This can be done by converting a commercial premises into housing or by acquiring compensation rights. The supporting documentation must be provided when applying for authorisation.
Rue Gambetta, the main street of the historic centre, is in the quota zone. You must check with the urban planning department that authorisations are still available in this area. If it is your primary residence, the 90-day cap applies. For a secondary residence, compensation is mandatory and the quota must not be reached.
Yes, provided you comply with all requirements: registration, compensation where applicable, compliance with town centre quotas and EPC conformity. Work on Labourdin houses within the protected perimeter must be approved by the Architecte des Bâtiments de France to preserve the authenticity of the Basque architectural heritage.
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