Before renting out a furnished vacation rental, you must register it with your local city hall. The specific requirements for this registration depend entirely on the municipality: it may be a simple formality in one place, but a permit subject to quotas in another.
Three Systems Depending on Your Municipality
Faced with tourism pressure and the difficulty residents have finding year-round housing, several municipalities in the Var region implemented the prior authorization system provided for in Article L. 324-1-1 of the Tourism Code during 2024–2026. The principle: to limit the number of furnished tourist rentals in the municipality by capping the number of permits issued.
Three mechanisms coexist:
- Simple declaration (default, everywhere) — CERFA form No. 14004
- Registration number (high-demand areas) — required before the property is rented out
- Prior authorization (very high-demand areas) — subject to a municipal quota
Primary residences (occupied for at least 8 months per year) may still be rented out anywhere for up to 120 nights per year without a quota: this is the standard “primary residence” regime.
What’s the status in your municipality?
Status as of April 1, 2026, for a few representative municipalities in the department:
| Municipality | Regime | Quota | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint-Tropez | Authorization + quota | 800 units (reached) | 3 months — waiting list |
| Ramatuelle | Authorization + quota | 250 units | 2 months |
| Grimaud | Registration number | — | 15 days |
| Sainte-Maxime | Registration number | — | 15 days |
| Lorgues | Simple declaration | — | immediate |
| Roquebrune-sur-Argens | Simple declaration | — | immediate |
This table provides a rough guide, not a definitive answer: rules vary from town to town and are tightening rapidly. Your local town hall’s urban planning department remains the only authoritative source for your property.
Plan Ahead Before Buying
If you’re buying or inheriting a property in a municipality subject to quotas, checking eligibility before the purchase has become second nature. The processing time can delay the property’s market launch by several months, and a rejection means the property cannot be rented out on a seasonal basis.
As the owner, this process is your responsibility and must be completed at your local city hall. If you have questions about the permitted use of your property or the documents you need to provide, our teams can help clarify the process and refer you to a licensed professional in the event of a complex procedure.
What About Taxes?
Registering your furnished rental with the town hall has nothing to do with filing your tax return, which is a separate process handled by a different government agency. We outline the key points in a dedicated article: What You Need to Report to the Tax Authorities.
This information, valid as of April 1, 2026, is subject to change. Please confirm with the urban planning department of the relevant city hall before making any decisions.
