Athens, Greece — Greek authorities are taking steps toward tighter oversight of short-term vacation rentals in some of the country’s most visited destinations, particularly on islands and in areas experiencing heavy tourism traffic.
A newly released spatial planning proposal from Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy outlines a series of potential measures aimed at managing the rapid expansion of Airbnb-style accommodations. The proposal is currently open for public consultation and does not immediately introduce new restrictions, but it establishes the legal basis for future regulations.
Under the framework, the government could move forward with policies that limit where short-term rentals are permitted, place caps on the number of rental properties allowed in certain regions, and regulate the amount of time homes may be rented to visitors.
One proposal receiving particular attention involves newly constructed homes on Greek islands. Authorities are considering preventing these new properties from entering the short-term rental market by suspending the issuance of additional AMA registration numbers — the mandatory registration identification used for legal operation on rental platforms.
The proposal also seeks to include short-term rental accommodations in calculations tied to a destination’s tourism capacity. In practice, this means Airbnb-style listings would be counted alongside hotels and other lodging options when determining whether an island or municipality can sustainably manage visitor volume.
Reports from Greece indicate that discussions surrounding the short-term rental provisions continued until the final stages of drafting the framework, with officials from the Tourism Ministry reportedly pushing for stronger regulatory language.
At the same time, enforcement remains a complex issue within Greece’s current legal system. Because short-term rentals are legally categorized as residential properties rather than tourism enterprises, oversight authority primarily falls under the Finance Ministry. The Tourism Ministry’s role is more limited and generally allows inspections only after complaints are filed.
Greece has previously attempted to regulate the sector. Although legislation addressing short-term rentals was approved in 2016, practical enforcement remained minimal for years. More substantial implementation only began in 2025, focusing mainly on central Athens neighborhoods where housing shortages and tourism congestion had intensified.
The consultation process for the new framework is expected to continue for approximately two weeks before the proposal advances to the next stage.
The initiative reflects Greece’s broader effort to balance the economic importance of tourism with concerns surrounding local housing availability, infrastructure demands, and sustainable development in destinations that continue to attract millions of international visitors each year.
