Puerto de la Cruz: Only 63 of 2,300 Vacation Rentals Are Fully Registered
We covered the drive up to Puerto de la Cruz a couple of weeks ago. This time, the less scenic but far more important part, what's actually happening with short-term rental rules in the town right now.
The Numbers Tell Their Own Story
Puerto de la Cruz currently has around 2,300 vacation rental properties operating in the municipality. Of those, only about 320 have filed the required prior notification to legally operate as a classified activity. Of those 320, only 63 have received a favourable report from the Cabildo of Tenerife, meaning fully compliant.
Based on this reported data, a large share of vacation rentals currently running in Puerto de la Cruz have not completed the full registration process. Figures like these can shift as more owners file paperwork, so treat this as a reason to check a property's actual status, not a verdict on any specific listing.
A New Local Ordinance Is Coming
Following the regional Law 6/2025 (in force since December 2025), Puerto de la Cruz's town council has now started the formal process of drafting its own municipal ordinance specifically to regulate vacation rentals. Until now, rentals here were governed purely by regional Canary Islands rules with no separate local layer. That's about to change.
The stated aim is to bring order to the growth of vacation rentals, protect residents' access to housing, and properly verify which properties are actually complying. Given how few properties currently are, expect this ordinance to tighten things considerably once finalised.
What This Means If You're Buying in Puerto de la Cruz
Don't assume a property is fully registered just because it's currently listed and taking bookings. Based on the reported figures, that's far from guaranteed either way. Before buying with rental income in mind, verify the seller's actual registration status directly, rather than assuming from the listing alone.
What This Means If You Already Own Here
If you haven't yet completed full registration, now is a good time to check where things stand, before the new municipal ordinance potentially makes the process stricter or slower. And if you're already among the properties with full approval, that status is likely to become more valuable as the town tightens enforcement.
This post is general information only, not financial or legal advice. Puerto de la Cruz's new municipal ordinance is still being drafted at the time of writing and details may change. Always check your specific situation with a qualified local lawyer before making decisions. If you'd like help checking where a Puerto de la Cruz property actually stands, get in touch, this is exactly the kind of due diligence we do for owners.