Brisbane City Council is moving to significantly restrain the advance of short-stay accommodation starting in 2026 through the introduction of a new permit and “three-strikes” enforcement system.

The landmark reforms are set to impact nearly 500 homes operating as short-stay accommodation in Brisbane’s suburbs, particularly those properties located in areas zoned low density and low-medium residential density. Owners of these properties will be advised to cease operating and return to the long-term rental market by June 30, 2026. They will be required to obtain appropriate development approval or cease operations by mid-next year.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated that the new law is about striking a balance between supporting tourism and protecting the peace and lifestyle of the suburbs where people live.

“These changes will help return hundreds of homes to the long-term rental market while still ensuring short stay accommodation can operate in the parts of the city where it makes sense,” Lord Mayor Schrinner said.

New Permit System Requirements and Enforcement

The reforms follow the completion of the Council’s Short Stay Accommodation Taskforce and extensive consultation. The new system aims to stamp out rogue operators whose guests frequently disturb neighbors and ensure that short-stay accommodation remains primarily in inner-city and tourism areas where it can be better regulated.

Under the new permit scheme, operators must fulfill several obligations before applying, including obtaining property owner consent, notifying their body corporate, and ensuring the property is correctly zoned under the Brisbane City Plan.

Specific requirements for permit holders include:

• Nominate a 24-hour contact person responsible for managing and responding to complaints. This contact must respond to Council-received complaints within 60 minutes and report back to Council within 24 hours.
• Provide guests with house rules.
• Display the permit number in all advertisements.
• Hold public liability insurance.

The Council will possess strong enforcement powers. Owners who incur three warnings from Council within a three-year period will have their permit rejected. Furthermore, short-stay accommodation owners who operate without a required permit could face fines exceeding $140,000. Immediate concerns related to noise, anti-social behavior, crime, and safety will continue to be handled by the Queensland Police Service.

The permit system is designed to deliver faster local responses to neighborhood concerns, clearer accountability for property owners and managers, and a better balance between tourism activities and residential amenity.

Industry Reaction and Opposition Critique

Industry stakeholders largely welcomed the structured approach. Samantha Reece, Director of the Australian Apartment Advocacy, commended the Council’s foresight ahead of the 2032 Olympics, noting that the laws reflect comments raised during the 12-month consultation process. She added that these changes provide twofold benefits, offering protection to apartment owners from “negligible short stay hosts” while still providing accommodation choices for families and groups.

Laura Bos, General Manager of the Strata Community Association Queensland, noted that the local law provides bodies corporate with clearer rules and a consistent framework. She emphasized that a registration scheme delivers vital oversight and transparency, and “enforceable penalties and problem-management rules are essential to protect residential amenity”.

However, the Council’s reforms faced sharp criticism from the Opposition. Cr. Jared Cassidy, Leader of the Opposition in Council, challenged the LNP Council’s credibility, arguing they have announced “crackdowns” before only for things to worsen. Cr. Cassidy pointed to a 2023 task force that was supposed to return over 400 dwellings to the rental market, yet Council continued to approve conversions of long-term rentals into short-stay accommodation.

“Council announced this permit system during the 2024-25 budget but failed to act until 18 months later,” Cr. Cassidy stated.

The proposed local law will be released for public consultation from December 12, 2025, to February 16, 2026, before undergoing State Government review and returning to Council for final approval. Hotels, emergency and social housing, serviced apartments with 24/7 onsite management, and home-based bed and breakfast businesses will remain exempt from permit requirements.