Geneva Cantonal Short-Term Rental Bill: Effects on City Landlords Compared to Zurich and Basel

The Geneva Cantonal Assembly approved the Short-Term Rental Regulation Bill in May 2026, requiring all property owners listing apartments on platforms such as Airbnb to obtain a municipal permit and limit rentals to 90 nights per year. The measure applies directly to residents in the city of Geneva and surrounding communes within the canton.

Cantonal officials introduced the legislation after the Federal Council updated its guidelines on housing stock preservation in late 2025. Geneva joins other Swiss jurisdictions that have adjusted rules on temporary accommodation amid rising residential demand in urban centres.

Geneva landlords who rent out entire apartments for more than the permitted nights must now convert the space back to long-term residential use or pay administrative fines starting at 5,000 Swiss francs. Tenants in buildings with multiple short-term listings may notice fewer seasonal vacancies in neighbourhoods such as Eaux-Vives and Carouge.

Comparison with Zurich and Basel

Under the same federal framework, Zurich caps short-term rentals at 60 nights annually while Basel maintains a 120-night threshold with additional reporting to the cantonal tax office. Geneva’s 90-night limit places it between the two, according to the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Housing Directors’ 2026 summary table.

Budget and Next Steps

The 2026 Geneva cantonal budget allocates 1.2 million Swiss francs for enforcement staff and an online registration portal managed by the Department of Territory. The government projects full rollout of the permit system by December 2026, with compliance checks beginning in the first quarter of 2027.

Local housing associations have requested clarification on how the night cap interacts with existing lease contracts signed before June 2026. The Cantonal Assembly is scheduled to review implementation reports in its autumn session.