Madrid
Regional registration: Registro de Empresas Turísticas of the Community of Madrid, via a responsible declaration to the Directorate General for Tourism. Since March 2026, the CIVUT report (a technical assessment with an on-site visit) is mandatory before that declaration — without it, the declaration isn't valid.
Municipal layer (Madrid city): on top of regional registration, you need a municipal planning license. The RESIDE Plan mainly limits the activity to the historic center (APE 00.01 zone); outside that area, it's only allowed on the ground or first floor with independent access.
Other recent requirements: a minimum floor area of 25 m² with no exceptions, a ban in public-protection housing, and express approval from the homeowners' association (3/5 majority).
Barcelona
Regional registration: Registre de Turisme de Catalunya (NIRTC), via a responsible declaration to the city council. The number must appear in all advertising and be visible on the facade or in a common area. Renting by the room has no legal standing in Catalonia and is subject to penalties.
Municipal layer (Barcelona): the PEUAT divides the city into 4 zones under a moratorium in force since 2015; there are roughly 10,101 active HUT licenses (as of May 2025), transferable, with a scheduled phase-out in 2028 (with pending court challenges). On top of that is the general cap under Decret Llei 3/2023: 10 HUT licenses per 100 inhabitants, with new licenses valid for 5 years, renewable. Existing license holders must renew their planning license before 11-09-2028 (or before 11-09-2027 if they request the exceptional extension through 2033).
Watch out for traveler registration: in Catalonia the system isn't SES.Hospedajes but the Mossos d'Esquadra — individual registration was required starting 31-01-2026 under the new framework.
Valencia
Regional registration: Registro de Turismo de la Comunitat Valenciana, with the longest process of the four: (1) a favorable municipal Urban Compatibility Report (ICU) with an individualized cadastral reference, (2) a responsible declaration to the GVA with the ICU's CSV code, (3) assignment of the VT-000000-X number. The Valencian license type is also the most restrictive on duration: it only covers stays of up to 10 continuous days for the same tenant; from day 11 onward it falls under the seasonal rental regime (LAU).
Municipal layer (Valencia city): since 31-03-2026, three simultaneous "locks" block new openings if any one of them is exceeded: tourist beds ≤8% of registered residents per neighborhood, VUT units ≤2% of the neighborhood's housing stock, and only ground or first floors with independent access. Ciutat Vella also has its own Special Plan. Important: the court annulment of the 2024 moratorium (TSJCV, 14-04-2026) does not free up the activity — the new locks remain in force.
Palma (Balearic Islands)
Regional registration: the most distinct system in Spain. Instead of a simple registry, the Balearics use a system of purchased tourist beds (CBAT): a municipal certificate confirming the zone is eligible under island zoning, purchase of beds (€875/bed in a multi-family building, €3,500/bed in a single-family home), a DRIAT filing with the island council, and registration in the Island Registry. An existing license functions as a transferable asset, not just a piece of paper — its market value is estimated between €20,000 and €120,000 per bed.
Current situation: acquiring new beds is effectively blocked. Since 16-04-2025, new beds in multi-family buildings have been banned across the entire archipelago. It's worth checking whether the temporary bed pool application window is still open in Mallorca (CBAT, March 2026).
One requirement all four share
In all four markets, beyond registration and the municipal layer, you need approval from your homeowners' association (3/5 majority, under the state-level reform of the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal from April 2025) before you can start the activity.
The next step
Each of these four regions has its own full regulation page with every field verified and its official source.
If your situation with the legalization process isn't clear, it's better to raise it proactively than to find out through a notice. Check it HERE in 2 minutes: free, you'll only answer 8 questions and we'll tell you where you stand on this point and on the rest of your compliance. (No account needed, no private data).