Barcelona will phase out its licensed tourist apartments by November 2028, with Barcelona Untold reporting that the city will not renew any of its roughly 10,100 existing tourist apartment permits once they expire.
No new tourist apartment licenses have been issued since 2026, while more than 3,500 apartments have already returned to the regular housing market ahead of the deadline.
The policy was challenged by property owners, but Spain’s Constitutional Court confirmed in March 2025 that Barcelona has the legal authority to implement the measure, allowing the plan to move forward.
The change does not amount to a ban on Airbnb as a company or on short-term accommodation in general. Hotels, hostels and guesthouses will continue operating, while mid-term rentals of 32 nights or more will remain permitted. The measure specifically targets entire licensed tourist apartments rented for short stays.
City officials say the goal is to return housing to long-term residents and ease pressure on the local housing market. Barcelona is set to become the first major European city to take this approach as part of its broader housing strategy.
