Australia · New South Wales
Short-term rental rules in Sydney
Legal regime
NSW Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) framework, effective 2021-11-01. Non-hosted STRA limited to 180 days/year in Greater Sydney region (Eastern Harbour City, Central River City, Western Parkland City). Hosted STRA (operator on premises) not subject to the 180-day cap. Mandatory NSW STRA Register, annual renewal required. Mandatory Code of Conduct compliance. Fire and safety requirements must be met before listing.
Key parameters
- License required
- Yes
- Max nights/year
- 180
License process
Registration on NSW STRA Register via planningportal.nsw.gov.au. Initial registration fee AUD 65 (non-refundable). Annual renewal required from initial registration date (renewal fee AUD 25, non-refundable). Renewal window opens 45 days before expiry; properties not renewed within 3 months of expiry are automatically deregistered and must re-register (new AUD 65 fee). Code of Conduct compliance attestation required. Fire safety standards verification required. STRA Property ID (format: PID-STRA-XXXX) must be displayed on all listings and platforms.
Applicable taxes
Recent changes
-
2021-11-01
NSW STRA planning framework comes into effect with mandatory register, Code of Conduct, and 180-day non-hosted cap for Greater Sydney.
Official sources
- https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/short-term-rental-accommodation
- https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/stra
- https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/property-professionals/code-of-conduct-for-short-term-rental-accommodation-industry
- https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/short-term-rental-accommodation
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a licence or registration to run a short-term rental in Sydney?
- Yes, a licence or registration is recorded as required to run a short-term rental in Sydney (per this tracker, as of May 17, 2026). See the details on this page for the process and any conditions. Verify against the official sources listed on this page before relying on it for an operational decision.
- Is there an annual night limit for short-term rentals in Sydney?
- Sydney records a 180-night annual cap (per this tracker, as of May 17, 2026). Which lettings the cap applies to, and any exceptions, are set out in the details on this page. Verify against the official sources listed on this page before relying on it for an operational decision.