Barcelona Council Votes to Restrict Tourist Rentals in Historic Ciutat Vella

Barcelona City Council passed an ordinance on July 7 that caps new short-term rental licences in Ciutat Vella at 2,500 properties and requires existing operators to obtain annual renewals tied to occupancy data. The measure directly affects owners of flats in the Gothic Quarter, El Raval and Barceloneta, as well as the estimated 18,000 residents who share buildings with tourist accommodation.

Why the vote occurred now

Council records show the decision follows a 2025 audit that found 9,400 unlicensed listings operating in the district. The ordinance draws on the 2024-2028 Housing Plan, which projects a shortfall of 4,200 long-term rental units by 2028 if current conversion rates continue. City officials stated the rules aim to return flats to the permanent rental market without banning tourism outright.

Policy analysts at the Barcelona Institute of Metropolitan Studies note that the changes will shift inspection duties to the municipal housing agency, which will receive an additional 3.2 million euros from the 2026 budget line for urban enforcement. Local advocates note that families currently paying 1,050 euros monthly for two-bedroom flats in El Raval could see more units released if 40 percent of current tourist flats convert within two years, as the council projects.

Residents in multi-unit buildings will face new notification requirements when neighbours apply for licences, giving them 30 days to submit comments to the district office. The same rules require operators to install noise sensors linked to the city’s 24-hour complaint line, a step already used in the Eixample district since 2023.

Next steps for implementation

Enforcement begins in January 2027, with the first round of renewals processed through an online portal managed by the city’s housing department. Property owners who fail to register by March 2027 will face fines starting at 6,000 euros per unit, according to the text adopted by the council. The ordinance also directs the city to publish quarterly compliance reports that will be presented at district council meetings open to the public.

Community groups in Barceloneta have scheduled information sessions for September to explain how tenants can request conversion of tourist flats back to residential use under the new provisions. City documents indicate the measure will be reviewed after 18 months using data on average rents and vacancy rates collected by the municipal statistics office.