Registration and planning required for Airbnbs in Mayo from next year

ALL Airbnb properties in Mayo will have to be registered with Bord Fáilte from May 2026.

And if rented out for more than 90 days in the year, they will require planning permission.

Clarity on the situation was provided by director of services Catherine McConnell at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council.

Councillor Peter Flynn said in Westport, one in three residential properties are operating as Airbnb, and he asked for an update on enforcement in the county and particularly Westport.

His issue wasn't about people renting out a room or part of their house or a chalet, or those in rural areas where there aren't hotels or B&Bs, but in town centres, where people can't find homes to rent. And he would continue to fight to have people living permanently in our town centres.

His area colleague Councillor Johnny O'Malley was unhappy about people having to get planning permission, saying some would have no option but to sell their properties.

Airbnb is needed as we don't have enough hotels and they are important in rural areas, he said.

Councillor Michael Burke said the problem is that it is more attractive financially to do Airbnb. He heard of a person in Galway who has 24 houses rented from individuals and he's renting them all out for Airbnb, which is taking homes away from the rental market.

Ms. McConnell said from May next, everyone with a short-term holiday rental will have to be registered with Bord Fáilte, with planning needed if the unit is used for more than 90 days. Operators cannot advertise on platforms if not registered.

Enforcement will probably fall back on the local authorities, she said.

In towns like Westport and Killarney, there are huge amounts of residential units that are not available for permanent occupation, driving the supply problem and rental costs upwards.