Renting an apartment, villa or riad by the night on Airbnb or Booking.com in Morocco is not forbidden, but it is no longer a grey area. Law No. 80-14 governs tourist establishments and other forms of tourist accommodation, and implementing decree No. 2-23-441, published in the Official Bulletin in August 2023, clarified the rules for forms such as homestays.
This guide summarises the practical obligations. It does not replace the official text or professional advice: procedures can vary by prefecture and change over time.
Which texts apply?
Three texts matter for accommodation let by the night to travellers:
- Law No. 80-14 on tourist establishments and other forms of tourist accommodation (Official Bulletin No. 6404, 15 October 2015)
- Decree No. 2-23-441, adopted on 8 June 2023 and published in August 2023
- Law No. 47-06 on local taxation, the basis of the tourist tax
Do you need an authorisation?
In principle, yes. Law 80-14 makes operating tourist accommodation, including homestays, subject to an authorisation and a set of specifications depending on the category. Contact the regional tourism delegation and the prefecture or province where the property is located to confirm the category and the documents required.
Register every guest
Like a hotel, a rental must record each guest's identity and pass it to the authorities. It is the most checked obligation on the ground and the easiest to forget when managing several apartments remotely.
Myths to drop
Check every claim against the official text before acting on it.
- "Short-term rental is banned in Morocco": false, it is regulated, not banned
- "There is a 120-night yearly cap": this cap, copied from European examples, does not appear in Law 80-14 as published
- "Airbnb declares for me": no, guest registration and income declaration remain the host's responsibility
6-step compliance checklist
For a host who is already renting:
- 1. Confirm the accommodation category with the regional tourism delegation
- 2. Prepare the authorisation file (title deed or lease, plans, insurance, ID)
- 3. Take out insurance covering the rental activity
- 4. Register and transmit guest records on arrival
- 5. Collect the tourist tax and keep a record per booking
- 6. Track income per channel for the tax return to the DGI
How software helps
Welcomax Rental PMS centralises Airbnb, Booking.com and direct bookings, prepares guest records, calculates the tourist tax per booking and exports income per channel for your accountant.
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