Canton of Vaud

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This article provides specific information about local laws that apply to people who host their homes in the Canton of Vaud. Just like our country article for Switzerland explains, it’s your responsibility to verify and comply with any obligations that apply to you as a host. This article can serve as a starting point or place you can come back to if you have questions but it isn’t exhaustive and it doesn’t constitute legal or tax advice. It’s a good idea to check to make sure laws and procedures are current.

Some of the laws that might affect you are complicated. Contact the Canton of Vaud directly or consult a local authority, such as an attorney or tax professional, if you have questions.

Canton of Vaud tourism tax

The Cantonal government applies tourism tax. Guests who book Airbnb listings that are located in the Canton of Vaud have to pay the tax as part of their booking and you as a host are responsible for collecting this tax and remitting it to the authority on their behalf. For more information, please visit the Canton of Vaud website.

Since April 1, 2023, Airbnb automatically collects the tourism tax and remits it to the Union of Vaud Communes (Union des Communes Vaudoises) in several communities. On February 1, 2025, the agreement was extended to new municipalities. Guests who stay in these municipalities will see the tourism tax listed separately on their invoices and added to the total amount they pay. Hosts in these municipalities no longer have to collect and remit the tourism taxes. Visit the website of the Union des Communes Vaudoises for a full list of participating municipalities to see where the automatic collection applies.

Short-term rental regulations

In the Canton of Vaud, regulations apply for hosts who rent out housing in the short term.

In 2022, the Grand Council created an amendment to the legislation of economic activities, including an amendment to the implementing regulations of the law on the preservation and promotion of rental housing stock.

Please visit the Vaud government website for more details and links to the laws (LEAE; RLPPPL and LPPPL).

The main elements of the short-term rental regulations after the revision are as follows:

• Obligation for hosts to notify a planned short term rental to the local authorities and provide them with information for a register of hosts.
• Obligation for hosts to keep a register of guests, comprising a copy of the passport or ID of each guest as well as the dates of arrival and departure.
• In districts affected by housing shortages as annually published by the Council of State in the Gazette of official notices, a permit for change of use is needed if an accommodation is rented in the form of a furnished rental with services or on platforms for more than 90 days per calendar year and if no exemption applies. The application for a change of use must be submitted to the Directorate of Housing via the municipality of the place where the property is located as the preliminary decision authority.
• You can find more information on how to apply for a change of use on this website of the Canton of Vaud.