Zurich is cracking down on holiday lets

Zurich is tightening the rules on housing from 1 September 2026. Anyone who regularly lets out flats for short periods as Airbnb accommodation or business flats must declare this use. In some cases, a planning application is required for conversions, even where no building work is involved.

The new rule comes into force following the Federal Supreme Court’s dismissal of the appeal against the partial revision of the Building and Zoning Regulations. As a result, flats let on a commercial basis or for a term of less than one year will, as a rule, no longer be included in the prescribed minimum proportion of residential units. This is precisely where the city is taking action, as such uses take space away from the traditional housing market.

From 1 September 2026, developers must declare the rental period for residential use when submitting planning applications. Anyone converting a flat into a serviced apartment will need to submit a planning application, even if no structural alterations are made to the property. Occasional lettings of one’s own flat whilst away remain exempt.

Five new posts for enforcement
The city anticipates a high volume of complaints, particularly at the outset, outside of ongoing planning permission procedures. The Building Permits Office is therefore to be provided with additional resources to manage enforcement. An urgent supplementary grant for five full-time posts over three years has been approved. The additional staffing capacity is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Political pressure remains high
Meanwhile, the political debate continues. In March 2026, the City Council declared the popular initiative to protect housing from Airbnb and business apartments to be valid and announced a counter-proposal. This is to be submitted to the City Council by 4 January 2027 at the latest. For owners, operators and property managers, this means that Zurich is already tightening enforcement whilst at the same time further expanding the regulatory framework through political measures.