Regensburg

You can read this article in German or English.

This article provides specific information about local laws that apply to people who host their homes in Regensburg. Just like our country article for Germany, it’s your responsibility to verify and comply with any obligations that apply to you as a host. This article can serve as a starting point or place you can come back to if you have questions but it isn’t exhaustive and doesn’t constitute legal or tax advice. It’s a good idea to check to make sure laws and procedures are current.

Some of the laws that might affect you are complicated. Contact the Regensburg Urban Development Administration directly or consult a local advisor, such as an attorney or tax professional, if you have questions.

Short-term rental regulations

The Housing administration enforces Regensburg's regulations that ban the use of residential space for other than residential purposes. The regulations came into effect in July 2019. Get more information about the regulations and enforcement by the City of Regensburg.

Residential space

According to Regensburg’s regulations, residential space is any space within city limits which is objectively suitable and subjectively intended for residential purposes. This includes corporate apartments and student homes.

Zoning violations

The regulations in Regensburg state that - without a permit - you’re not allowed to use more than 50% of the floor space of any residential space for non-residential purposes, such as commercial or professional purposes like short-term rentals to guests. However, the regulations allow you to rent your entire home to guests for a combined total of up to eight weeks per calendar year without a permit.

Additionally, there are no limits or permits required for renting out individual rooms within your own home as long as the rented space is not more than 50% of your property’s floor space.

Permits

You need to obtain a permit from the City of Regensburg, if you want to use more than 50% of the floor space of your residence for more than 8 weeks per year for purposes like short-term rental. This permit has to be granted if prevailing public interest or private interest that is worthy of protection outweighs the interest of protecting residential space. Furthermore, the permit can be granted if the public interest in the preservation of residential space is compensated by the creation of replacement residential space or a payment.

Download the permit application. The outcome of any permit application also applies to the legal successor of the applicant or anyone who takes possession of the space after the permit has been granted.