How do I get a tourist license for a rental in Spain?

A **tourist license** (*licencia turística* / *Vivienda de Uso Turístico*, VUT) is what legally lets you short-let a property to holidaymakers in Spain. **The rules are regional, not national** — each *comunidad autónoma* sets its own regime, and increasingly each *ayuntamiento* (town hall) adds local limits. **The general process:** 1. Confirm the property and its zone are eligible — some city centres and saturated coastal zones have **frozen new licenses** (Barcelona, parts of the Balearics, and a growing list of municipalities). 2. Check the community-of-owners statutes — since 2023 a *comunidad* can restrict tourist lets. 3. Register with the regional tourism authority (e.g. *Registro de Turismo* of Andalucía, Valencia, Catalonia) and obtain the VUT/registration number. 4. Meet the habitability and equipment standards for your region, and display the license number on every listing. **Why it matters for yield:** a property without an obtainable license can only be long-let, which materially changes the achievable yield. Avena's yield estimates assume an obtainable short-let license; always verify eligibility for the specific address before underwriting a holiday-rental return. Confirm current rules with the relevant regional tourism registry and town hall — they change frequently. General information, not legal advice. Related: [Holiday rental management fees](/answers/spain-holiday-rental-property-management-fee) · [Rental yield on Costa Blanca](/answers/rental-yield-costa-blanca-2026) — Avena Terminal (avenaterminal.com)