Can I be fined as a guest?

Munich's rules and fines are aimed at hosts and landlords, not guests. The risk for guests is practical: an illegal listing can be removed and a booking cancelled.

Does a registration number mean a listing is legal?

No. According to the City of Munich, a registration number only allows a host to advertise online. It does not replace the permit needed to let a whole flat for more than 8 weeks a year.

Do hotels and guesthouses need a registration number?

No. The City of Munich says hotels, inns, guesthouses and campsites are exempt from the registration requirement.

Is Airbnb legal in Munich? What UK visitors need to know

Q: Is Airbnb legal in Munich?

Partly. Renting out a whole flat to tourists all year round needs a permit from the City of Munich. Without one, residents may only let their own home for up to 8 weeks a year while they are away. Letting a room in a home the host lives in, and stays in licensed hotels, aparthotels and guesthouses, are allowed.

Last checked: 14 November 2026 · Based on official sources from the City of Munich, the Bavarian government and the EU

The short answer

Partly. Munich protects housing for people who live here, so holiday lets are tightly limited:

A whole flat let to tourists all year round needs a permit from the city.
Residents may let their own home for up to 8 weeks a year while they're away – for example during Oktoberfest.
A spare room in a home the host lives in is fine.
Hotels, aparthotels and guesthouses with commercial approval are not affected.

Why Munich restricts holiday flats

Munich wants flats to stay available for people who live here. Under a city bylaw on the misuse of housing (Zweckentfremdungssatzung), residential flats may not be turned into permanent holiday lets without a permit. The city enforces this actively and can fine hosts up to €500,000 per violation.

What the city allows without a permit

Up to 8 weeks per calendar year (56 days, which can be split up) of letting your own home while you're away.
Letting part of a home the host still lives in, as long as less than half of the floor space is used for guests.
Commercial premises – buildings approved for business use, such as hotels and aparthotels, don't fall under these rules.

New: registration numbers for holiday lets

An EU regulation (2024/1028) introduces registration numbers for short-term rentals across Europe. Bavaria added the rules to its housing law from 1 April 2026, and Munich's updated bylaw took effect on 1 August 2026.

Once the system is live, every furnished unit offered online for short stays needs its own registration number, shown in the listing.
Hotels, inns, guesthouses and campsites are exempt.
A number is not a permit. It only allows the host to advertise. A whole flat let for more than 8 weeks a year still needs a separate permit.

Status as of November 2026: Munich's registration portal is not open yet. The city says it will announce the start date in good time. Until then, you won't see Munich registration numbers on listings – their absence is not a warning sign on its own. We'll update this guide when the portal launches.

What this means for you as a guest

The rules and fines are aimed at hosts and landlords, not guests. The real risk for you is practical: the city can ask platforms to remove illegal listings, and a booking on a removed listing may be cancelled – possibly close to your trip, when Oktoberfest prices are at their highest.

How to spot a legal place to stay

Type of listing	Legal?	What to check
Hotel, aparthotel, guesthouse (Pension)	Yes	Reception or a clear business behind it
Private room in the host's own home	Yes	Host lives there; you share kitchen or bathroom
Host's own flat while they're away	Up to 8 weeks/year	Ask whether it's their main home and how many weeks they've let it this year
Whole flat, available all year, host with many similar listings	Only with permit	Ask for the city permit. If the host can't answer, choose another place

Quick checklist before you book

Is it a hotel, aparthotel or guesthouse? Then you're on safe ground.
Private flat? Message the host: “Is this your main home, and is the let allowed under Munich's rules?” A genuine host will answer clearly.
Once Munich's registration starts: look for the registration number in the listing.
Book with free cancellation where possible, so you can switch if a listing disappears.

Safer options for Oktoberfest 2027

Oktoberfest 2027 runs from Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October. For a stress-free stay, look at:

Aparthotels and serviced apartments – a kitchen and more space, but run as a business.
Guesthouses (Pensionen) – often good value and family-run.
A room in a local's home – legal and a great way to meet people who live in Munich.

Our Oktoberfest stay guide, with neighbourhoods, travel times to the Theresienwiese and realistic prices, is coming soon.

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Official sources

City of Munich – Misuse of housing: rules and enforcement (German)
City of Munich – Information sheet on registration for short-term rentals (German, PDF)
City of Munich – Bylaw on the misuse of housing (ZeS) (German)
Bavaria – Housing Misuse Act, Art. 2a: registration (German)
EU – Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 on short-term rentals
Oktoberfest – Official dates and opening hours

This guide explains the rules in plain English for travellers. It is not legal advice. Hosts should contact the City of Munich's housing department directly.