Note
VFT licence in Andalusia: tourist dwellings
Quick answer
The Junta de Andalucía’s notice explains the 2024 changes to tourist dwellings: registration numbers move from VFT to VUT, owners declare operating periods, and capacity is set at 14 m² built per place. The notice says nothing on statutes or licences, so check those separately.
Applies toOwners and buyers of tourist dwellings in Andalusia, including the Costa del Sol and Seville.
On this page: 9 sections
§ 1What we read
We read an information notice from the Andalusian tourism department about the decree that changed the earlier regime for tourist dwellings, which took effect on 22 February 2024. The notice does not give the new decree’s number or its gazette reference, and it concerns homes already registered. We did not read the decree, so this page is limited to what the notice says. It belongs to the chapter in an overview of holiday rentals.
§ 2Renumbering
Registration numbers change from the prefix for the old category of dwellings with tourist purposes to a prefix for tourist-use dwellings, followed by the province code and the number. The change is validated automatically, but owners must update the prefix in their adverts and on listing portals.
§ 3Operating periods
Owners must declare the periods in which the dwelling operates, using the online form with a digital certificate. Advertising and availability must match, and no tourist activity may take place outside the periods. If no periods are declared the dwelling is assumed to operate all year, and the notice warns that an owner who does not repeat the same period each year must declare it before the new year or risk sanction or cancellation proceedings.
§ 4Capacity and bathrooms
The notice sets capacity at 14 m² built per place, with a minimum floor area of twenty-five square metres. A dwelling let by rooms can have up to six places, and a whole dwelling up to fifteen. Homes with more than five places need two full bathrooms, and more than eight places need three.
§ 5Equipment
The notice lists standards to meet by 22 February 2025: heating or cooling for the operating season, kitchen equipment, bedroom standards, a smoke detector and an extinguisher. Check the current text.
§ 6Operators
If a company manages the home, with key handover, reception, cleaning and billing, it must file a change-of-operator communication so it is registered as the operating holder.
§ 7What the notice leaves out
The notice does not mention community statutes, municipal licences or urban compliance, nor fines or the procedure for cancellation. Andalusian municipalities have their own planning rules on tourist dwellings, and the community vote applies. The rules on the community vote explains the vote, and the rules on the national registry number explains why the national number was annulled in 2026, so the regional number is the one that counts. Since 3 April 2025 a new tourist let in a block also needs the community’s express approval. The regional government approved a bill for a Sustainable Tourism Law on 2 December 2025 and, according to press on 24 October 2026, Parliament has not passed it. We did not read the bill.
§ 8Before you buy
Ask the town hall, the administrator and your lawyer to confirm in writing that tourist use is allowed for the specific home.
§ 9More on this topic
The rules on letting on Airbnb explains the platform side of tourist lets and the rules on the Valencian Community explains the Valencian rules for tourist dwellings.
Catalonia in detail explains the Catalan decree-law on tourist dwellings and the Balearic Islands in detail explains the Balearic decree-law on tourist stays in dwellings.
The Canary Islands in detail explains the Canary law on tourist use of homes and Madrid in detail explains the Madrid rules for tourist dwellings.
FAQRelated questions
What changed in Andalusia in 2024?
According to the Junta’s notice, a decree changed the rules from February 2024: registration numbers are renumbered, owners declare operating periods, capacity and bathroom rules apply, and equipment standards follow. The notice does not give the decree’s number.
Do I need a licence as well?
The notice does not mention municipal licences, urban compliance or community statutes. Planning and building rules, and the community vote, are separate layers that you must check yourself with your lawyer.
What if I do not declare my periods?
The notice treats the home as open all year, and says activity outside declared dates is forbidden. Owners who need different dates each year must declare them before January or face sanction or cancellation steps; amounts are not given.
Sources
- Junta de Andalucía: Nota informativa sobre viviendas de uso turístico (cambios del decreto de 2024) (official source, opens in a new window), Operating periods; capacity; equipment; registration numbersLast checked 18 October 2026
Legal note. How the process works in general. It is not legal advice, and it never replaces an independent Spanish lawyer acting for you.