Ireland is moving short-term letting onto a statutory footing. From 1 December 2026, Fáilte Ireland operates a national Short-Term Letting (STL) Register, and from 31 December 2026 registration becomes a legal obligation for all operators. This guide explains, from primary sources, who must register, what the register actually does, how it connects to the EU short-term rental regulation, and what to do now.
One caveat up front: Fáilte Ireland states that all the information on its register page is "based on the current draft of the legislation and is subject to change." The governing Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025 is not yet enacted. Where a detail has not been published, we say so plainly rather than guess.
What the Short-Term Letting (STL) Register Is
The Short-Term Letting (STL) Register — abbreviated "STLR" — is a national register operated by Fáilte Ireland, in compliance with the EU short-term rental regulation. According to Fáilte Ireland, anyone offering paid accommodation for up to and including 21 nights is within scope and must register each unit. This 21-night figure is the register's definition of a short-term let; it is not the same as the 90-day planning rule (more on that below).
On registration, each unit receives a unique Short-Term Letting registration number, which must be shown on all listings and advertisements. As part of registering, the operator confirms by way of a legal declaration that they meet the relevant statutory obligations — for example planning and fire safety. Fáilte Ireland does not assess each property individually; the declaration places the compliance responsibility on the operator.
Because the register runs on the current draft of the legislation, several operational details are still being finalised. The fine detail of register exemptions — for instance whether a single room is treated differently from an entire home, or whether a principal private residence let under 90 days is exempt from the register as well as from planning — is being finalised in the Bill. We do not state an exemption that Fáilte Ireland has not published.
How the Register Connects to EU Regulation 2024/1028
The Irish register is the national mechanism that sits underneath the EU's short-term rental rules. Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, adopted on 11 April 2024, requires a host to obtain a unique registration number from the competent authority, submit identification and unit details (address, type, bed capacity, residency information), and display the number in every listing, giving it to guests and platforms.
Platforms, in turn, must ensure registration numbers are clearly shown, and transmit activity data to authorities (monthly for most platforms; quarterly for small or micro platforms below 4,250 average monthly listings). Crucially, competent authorities can order platforms to remove or disable listings that lack a valid registration number or misuse one. The EU obligations apply from 20 May 2026 (a date derived from the Regulation's 24-month deferral). The practical effect: from late 2026, an Irish listing without a valid STL registration number risks being delisted.
The Register vs Planning Permission — Do Not Confuse These
The 21-night register test and the 90-day planning exemption are two different rules — do not confuse them. The 21-night figure defines what counts as a short-term let for the register. The 90-day figure is a planning exemption under S.I. No. 235 of 2019: a principal private residence in a Rent Pressure Zone may be let short-term where the aggregate does not exceed 90 days a year without needing planning permission. Registration and planning are separate obligations; you may need to satisfy both.
Separately, since 1 July 2019, a property that is not the owner's principal private residence and is let short-term must apply for change-of-use planning permission unless it already holds tourism or short-term-letting permission. For the full planning picture, see our Airbnb planning permission and RPZ guide.
Fees, Number Format, Renewal and Penalties (Not Yet Published)
Several questions hosts ask most have no published answer yet. We will not invent them:
- Registration fee: Fáilte Ireland has not yet published a registration fee. We will update this once confirmed.
- Registration number format: The format of the registration number has not been published; do not assume a particular pattern.
- Renewal period: The renewal period has not been published.
- Penalties for non-registration: Penalty amounts will be set by the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025, which is not yet enacted; specific fines have not been published. The clearest published consequence is the EU delisting power above.
What to Do Now
The register is not live until 1 December 2026, but the operators who will move fastest are the ones whose paperwork is already in order. Practical steps:
- Confirm whether each unit is your principal private residence or a separate property — this drives your planning position (see the planning guide).
- Gather the unit details the EU Regulation already lists: address, property type, bed capacity, and owner identification.
- Keep a dated record of each turnover and the unit's guest-ready condition, so you can evidence statutory-obligations compliance when you make the legal declaration.
- Watch this page — we refresh it monthly as Fáilte Ireland and the Bill publish detail (fee, number format, renewal, penalties).
Frequently Asked Questions: STL Register Ireland
Do I need to register my short-term let in Ireland?
If you offer paid accommodation for up to and including 21 nights, you are expected to register each unit on the Fáilte Ireland Short-Term Letting (STL) Register. The register launches on 1 December 2026 and registration becomes a legal obligation for all operators by 31 December 2026. The detail is based on the current draft legislation and may change before enactment.
What is the Short-Term Letting Register?
The Short-Term Letting (STL) Register, abbreviated STLR, is a national register run by Fáilte Ireland for short-term tourist accommodation, in compliance with the EU short-term rental regulation. Each registered unit receives a unique registration number that must be shown on every listing and advertisement. Registration includes a legal declaration that the operator meets the relevant statutory obligations.
When does the STL Register open and when is it mandatory?
Fáilte Ireland has stated the STL Register will launch on 1 December 2026, and that there will be a legal obligation on all operators to register by 31 December 2026. These dates come from the Minister's statement in the Dáil on 16 June 2026. The governing Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025 is not yet enacted, so detail may still change.
How much does it cost to register a short-term let?
Fáilte Ireland has not yet published a registration fee for the Short-Term Letting Register. We will update this page once a fee is confirmed. Do not rely on any quoted figure that is not published by Fáilte Ireland, as the register operates on the current draft of the legislation and the fee structure is still being finalised.
What is the penalty for not registering?
Penalty amounts will be set by the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025, which is not yet enacted, so specific fines have not been published. Separately, under EU Regulation 2024/1028 a competent authority can order platforms to remove or disable listings that lack a valid registration number, so an unregistered listing risks being delisted.
Related Regulation Guides
- How to register a short-term let in Ireland (step by step)
- Short-term let register deadline: the 31 December 2026 countdown
- Do I need to register my Airbnb in Ireland?
- Airbnb planning permission and Rent Pressure Zones
- EU short-term rental regulation (2024/1028) explained
- New Airbnb rules in Ireland for 2026
- Short-term let fire safety and insurance in Ireland