Published on
August 15, 2025
By: Tuhin Sarkar
The United States has now joined Canada, Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands in taking a decisive stand against unlicensed short-term rentals, with New Orleans becoming the latest focal point of this global crackdown. In a sweeping move, Airbnb has begun removing more than one thousand unlicensed short-term rental listings from its platform in New Orleans. This action comes in direct response to New Orleans’ newly implemented and highly stringent regulations, which require all short-term rental platforms to verify that every listing has a valid licence before it can remain active.
The move marks a turning point for the city’s tourism and hospitality sector. For years, New Orleans has been a magnet for visitors drawn to its jazz-filled streets, historic architecture, and world-famous festivals. However, the rapid rise of unregulated short-term rentals has sparked mounting concerns over housing affordability, community displacement, and fair competition for licensed hospitality businesses. By enforcing strict compliance, city officials aim to protect neighbourhood integrity and ensure that tourism growth benefits residents as much as visitors.
For travellers, the impact will be immediate and noticeable. While the crackdown may reduce the number of available short-term stays, it could also lead to a higher standard of accommodation, more transparent pricing, and better regulation of visitor behaviour in residential areas. For the local housing market, the policy is expected to free up long-term rental properties and ease pressure on rising rents. As New Orleans takes this bold step, the city is sending a clear message: tourism must coexist with community wellbeing.
Across the world, governments are forcing Airbnb and similar platforms to remove unlicensed rentals. From Europe to Asia, and North America to the Middle East, authorities are setting new rules to control short-term rentals. The aim is to protect housing for residents, keep neighbourhoods stable, and make sure tourism benefits everyone. This trend is reshaping how people travel, book stays, and invest in property.
Airbnb has begun removing over 1,000 unlicensed short-term rentals in New Orleans. The move follows the city’s new strict rules, which force platforms to ensure all listings are licensed. This crackdown could reshape the local tourism scene, housing market, and the way visitors experience the city’s historic neighbourhoods.
Why Countries Are Cracking Down on Unlicensed Rentals
In many cities, short-term rentals have grown quickly. Platforms like Airbnb have made it easy for homeowners to rent to tourists. While this brings income, it can also push locals out of neighbourhoods.
Officials say too many unlicensed rentals raise housing costs, reduce the number of homes for residents, and disrupt community life. That is why many governments now require hosts to have a licence or registration number. If a property is not registered, it cannot be listed or booked.
Spain Introduces Strict National Rules
Spain has moved from city-based enforcement to a national system. Hosts now need to register their property and display a number on their listing. Platforms must remove any listing without this number.
Barcelona has gone even further. The city gives platforms only 48 hours to delete an illegal ad once notified. This makes it almost impossible for unlicensed rentals to stay online for long. The new law is designed to protect housing and keep tourism under control.
Italy Makes a National Identification Code Mandatory
Italy has also introduced a country-wide identification system for short-term rentals. Every property needs a unique CIN (National Identification Code). This code must appear on all listings. If a listing has no code, platforms face fines and must remove it.
The system is meant to stop illegal operators and make sure all rentals follow the same tax and safety rules as hotels. This also gives travellers more confidence when booking.
France Forces Platforms to Verify Listings
France requires registration numbers for short-term rentals in many cities. Paris is one of the strictest. Hosts can only rent their main home for a set number of days each year.
Airbnb and other platforms must check that listings display valid numbers. They must also remove any illegal ads when told to by authorities. This approach tries to balance tourism demand with housing needs in busy cities.
Greece Links All Rentals to a National Registry
In Greece, all short-term rentals must be in the government’s AADE registry. Every listing needs a registration ID. Advertising without this ID can lead to fines and removal from platforms.
The registry helps the government track rentals, collect taxes, and make sure properties meet safety rules. It also stops unlicensed competition from affecting legal operators.
The Netherlands Targets Major Cities
Dutch law allows cities to require registration and permits. Airbnb has already removed unregistered listings in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. These are the largest cities and popular with tourists.
The rule is simple: no registration number, no listing. This ensures the city can limit the total number of rentals and protect residential housing.
The European Union Brings a Common Framework
In 2024, the EU passed a short-term rental regulation for all member states. Platforms must collect and display registration numbers and share data with local authorities.
If a listing is illegal, the city or country can order the platform to remove it. This creates a standard across Europe and makes it harder for illegal rentals to move from one city to another.
Japan Enforces Licensing Through the Minpaku Law
Japan’s 2018 Minpaku law requires every short-term rental to have a government licence number. Airbnb removed thousands of unregistered listings when the law began.
Now, any new listing must include a valid number. If it does not, it will not appear on the site. This system has brought more order to the Japanese short-term rental market.
Singapore Keeps a Tight Ban on Illegal Rentals
In Singapore, private homes cannot be rented for short stays without approval from the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Many short-term rentals are not allowed at all.
Airbnb has removed illegal listings in the past and now blocks ads for stays that break the rules. This helps keep residential housing available and prevents disruption to neighbours.
South Korea Moves to Full Licensing by 2025
In South Korea, Airbnb will require all listings to submit licence details by October 2025. New listings already need this information.
Listings that do not provide a licence will be removed. The goal is to align with national accommodation laws and ensure all rentals are safe and legal.
Turkey Requires Permits for Short Stays
Turkey now requires a government permit for rentals of up to 100 days. A permit number must be shown on all listings.
Without a permit, platforms must remove the ad. This protects local housing markets and makes sure visitors stay in approved, inspected properties.
Canada Adopts Province and City-Level Controls
In British Columbia, only registered properties can be listed. Platforms must verify registration numbers and remove non-compliant ads.
In Québec, every listing must show a registration number. Platforms are required to take down any illegal listing. Toronto also blocks bookings for unregistered rentals. These rules are spreading to other Canadian cities.
The United States Sees City-Based Enforcement
New York City’s Local Law 18 is one of the toughest in the US. Hosts must register with the city, and platforms cannot process bookings for unregistered rentals.
This rule caused Airbnb’s local listings to drop by more than 90% after it took effect. Other cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco also have strong registration requirements.
New Rules Reshape the Short-Term Rental Market
At the start of August, New Orleans began enforcing some of the toughest short-term rental laws in the United States. Platforms like Airbnb must now verify that every host holds a valid city permit before a property can be listed. This is a major shift from the old system, where the city ordered removals, and platforms played a passive role. Now, the responsibility rests directly with Airbnb and others to police their sites. For many operators, this means their listings vanished almost overnight.
Airbnb Removes Over 1,000 Listings
Operators who closely monitor Airbnb’s listings estimate that more than 1,000 properties have been taken down since the purge began. Many of these rentals were located in high-demand tourist areas such as the French Quarter and the Treme neighbourhood. These are areas where visitors often seek immersive cultural stays, but where residents have complained of noise, congestion, and soaring housing costs. The scale of the removal highlights how deeply short-term rentals had penetrated the city’s housing stock.
Years of Legal Battles Lead to Crackdown
This enforcement comes after nearly a decade of disputes between residents, operators, and city officials. Short-term rentals grew rapidly during the tourism boom, giving homeowners a chance to earn income but also fuelling complaints of neighbourhood disruption. Critics argued that the influx of vacation rentals drove up rents and displaced long-term residents. In response, the city passed tough restrictions two years ago, sparking lawsuits from Airbnb and some hosts. After lengthy legal battles, the rules have now survived court challenges and are fully in force.
Impact on Tourism and Visitor Choices
For travellers, the changes mean fewer options in certain neighbourhoods. Visitors who prefer staying in private homes or historic Creole cottages may need to book earlier or look beyond the French Quarter. Hotels, boutique inns, and licensed bed-and-breakfasts are expected to benefit from the reduction in unlicensed competition. Tourism operators believe this could shift visitor spending toward regulated accommodations, potentially boosting tax revenues but also raising average nightly rates in popular areas.
Housing Market Effects and Resident Reactions
Local residents have long voiced concerns that short-term rentals were eroding community life. By converting residential homes into tourist accommodations, critics say, the balance of neighbourhoods tipped toward transient guests rather than permanent residents. The purge may help stabilise housing availability and slow rising rental prices. However, some property owners argue that the extra income from platforms like Airbnb helped them cover mortgage costs and preserve historic homes. The debate over housing affordability versus tourism income is far from settled.
Hotel Industry Applauds the Rules
Hotels in New Orleans, particularly those near the French Quarter, have supported the stricter regulations. They argue that all accommodation providers should face the same compliance costs, safety standards, and tax obligations. With thousands of unlicensed rentals now gone, hotels anticipate an increase in bookings, especially during major events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. Industry leaders see this as a step toward levelling the playing field in the city’s competitive tourism market.
The French Quarter and Cultural Preservation
The French Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate and one of the most visited neighbourhoods in the U.S., has been at the heart of the short-term rental debate. Supporters of the crackdown believe it will protect the area’s character, keeping more housing available for locals and reducing the churn of temporary guests. For tourists, this could mean a shift toward more curated and historically sensitive accommodation experiences, albeit at potentially higher prices.
What This Means for Airbnb’s Future in New Orleans
Airbnb’s willingness to comply marks a strategic shift, but it also poses questions about the platform’s long-term role in cities with strict regulations. The company faces similar crackdowns in places like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and New York. For New Orleans, enforcement will test whether the new system can truly balance tourism growth with community stability. The coming months will reveal whether remaining licensed rentals can meet visitor demand without reigniting local opposition.
Advice for Travellers Booking New Orleans Stays
Visitors planning trips to New Orleans should now check that any Airbnb or short-term rental they book is fully licensed. Listings without proper documentation risk sudden removal, potentially disrupting travel plans. Travellers may also want to compare hotel and licensed B&B rates, as reduced competition could affect pricing. Those seeking authentic local stays may find options shifting toward smaller, licensed operators who meet the city’s cultural and safety guidelines.
Australia Makes Registration Mandatory in New South Wales
In New South Wales, properties must be registered under the state’s STRA scheme. Platforms can only list registered properties.
If a listing does not have a registration number, it is removed. This helps enforce safety rules and prevent overcrowding in popular holiday areas.
Dubai Enforces Holiday Home Permits
Dubai requires every short-term rental to have a Holiday Home permit from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The permit number must be on the listing.
Platforms must block or remove ads without a permit. This ensures that the booming holiday home sector meets the city’s quality and safety standards.
A Clear Global Pattern Emerges
Across the world, a similar model is taking shape. Governments require hosts to get a permit or registration number. Platforms must check these numbers and remove any listing that does not comply.
This model gives local authorities more control over tourism growth, housing supply, and community stability. It also makes short-term rentals more transparent for guests.
What This Means for Travellers and Hosts
For travellers, these rules mean more reliable listings and fewer risks of last-minute cancellations due to legal problems. It may also mean higher prices if the number of rentals falls.
For hosts, it means more paperwork and compliance costs. However, it also means fairer competition, as all operators must meet the same rules.
A Defining Moment for New Orleans Tourism
The purge of unlicensed Airbnb rentals marks a defining moment in New Orleans’ tourism and housing policy. By forcing platforms to verify permits, the city aims to protect neighbourhood character while ensuring fair competition. While the move is applauded by hoteliers and many residents, it also changes the landscape for travellers who cherished the variety of short-term rental experiences. As the dust settles, New Orleans faces the challenge of balancing its identity as a vibrant, visitor-friendly city with the needs of the people who call it home.
