October the 22nd, 2026 – The Croatian Government has given in on certain aspects of the Hospitality Activity Act, providing 15,000 unlicensed apartments 4 more years to operate.
The Croatian Government has now accepted the final proposal of the Hospitality Activity Act, which extends the validity of temporary decisions for around 15,000 landlords by an additional four years, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport announced. Index reports that these temporary decisions – on the basis of which apartments and rooms operate in buildings that do not have all the necessary papers, an occupancy permit, or are still waiting for the completion of the legalisation process – were due to expire at the end of this year. If the law had remained unchanged, thousands of landlords would have had to lock up, but with the new legislative proposal the Government has moved the deadline all the way to the 31st of December 2030.
protecting the livelihoods of family landlords
Tourism and Sport Minister Tonči Glavina said that this protects the livelihood of family landlords and ensures the continuity of their business so that they have enough time to legalise their properties and obtain permanent permits. “This is an important measure, especially when we take into account that at the end of 2024 around 15,000 landlords were operating on the basis of temporary decisions,” Glavina stated.
unique registration numbers as of 2027
In addition to extending the permits for legalisation, the law also brings novelties aimed at combating unregistered rentals. A unique registration number is being introduced for accommodation units advertised via online platforms such as Booking and Airbnb, but this provision will not enter into force immediately – only from the 1st of May 2027 so that the market has time to adapt. The state plans to establish direct data exchange with the platforms, which means that properties without a valid registration number would no longer be allowed to be advertised online. At the same time, county bodies are obliged to submit accurate data on the number of resolved cases and temporary decisions to the Ministry once a year, by the 30th of June.
higher penalties and closer inspections
The new legal framework also provides for higher misdemeanour fines for violations of the regulations, expanded powers for tourism and tax inspectors, and the digitisation of administrative procedures through the eTurizam system. Another novelty is that the rental of rooms and apartments in family houses will in future also be able to be registered through a craft or a limited liability company (d.o.o.), and not only in the status of a private landlord as has been the case until now. The bill has been sent to the parliamentary procedure for a second reading.
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