Letting a furnished tourist rental (meublé de tourisme) requires compliance with a precise declaratory framework. Among the obligations that fall on owners, obtaining and displaying a thirteen-digit registration number holds a central place. This number, often perceived as a mere formality, in fact conditions the very possibility of publishing a listing on booking platforms. For an owner in a resort, where seasonal letting is common practice, mastering the rules is essential.
This guide sets out the principle of the registration number, the procedure for obtaining it, and the points to watch, notably the question of change of use. Information current as of July 2026, indicative data that does not constitute personalised advice, check with your town hall or a professional.
What the 13-digit registration number is
The registration number is a thirteen-digit identifier assigned to a furnished tourist rental when the owner declares the property to the municipality. It formalises the declaration of the accommodation as a furnished tourist rental and allows municipalities to monitor short-term letting activity in their area.
What the number is for
The number serves several functions:
- It attests to the declaration of the furnished rental to the municipality.
- It must appear on all listings published, regardless of the marketing channel.
- It allows municipalities to understand and regulate the supply of seasonal rentals, particularly in areas where the activity is intense.
Without this number, publishing a listing is not compliant. Booking platforms increasingly require it to be entered when a property is put online.
A number specific to each dwelling
The registration number is tied to a specific dwelling. An owner with several rental properties must obtain a distinct number for each. Likewise, the number is specific to the municipality where the property is located: it is the town hall of that municipality that issues it.
How to obtain your registration number
Obtaining the registration number involves a process with the municipality where the furnished rental is located. In the municipalities concerned, this is generally carried out online via an online service (téléservice) set up by the town hall.
The procedure in practice
The declaration relies on a form in which the owner provides information about the accommodation and its letting. At the end of the process, the municipality assigns the thirteen-digit number, which the owner keeps and then displays on their listings.
The main steps are as follows:
- Identify the municipality where the property is located and check the declaration arrangements it applies.
- Access the dedicated online service, where the municipality offers one, or follow the procedure indicated by the town hall.
- Complete the form with information about the accommodation.
- Obtain and keep the registration number assigned.
- Display the number on all rental listings for the property.
Check the local rules
The precise arrangements vary from one municipality to another. Some municipalities under strong rental pressure apply stricter rules than others. It is therefore essential to enquire directly with the relevant town hall, rather than starting from a general rule assumed to be uniform across the country.
The question of change of use
Beyond registration, a second mechanism may apply: change-of-use authorisation. This requirement, distinct from the registration number, concerns certain situations and certain municipalities.
What it involves
Change of use covers the transformation of a residential premises to another use, notably short-term furnished letting to a transient clientele. In municipalities that require it, putting a dwelling up for seasonal rental may require prior change-of-use authorisation.
This point deserves particular attention for second homes. Depending on the municipality, a dwelling that is not the owner's main residence and is let seasonally may fall under this authorisation obligation. The applicable rules depend on each municipality's housing policy.
Distinguishing the two processes
It is important not to confuse the two mechanisms:
- The registration number is a declaratory process that identifies the furnished rental and must appear on listings.
- Change-of-use authorisation, where required, is a prior authorisation relating to the use of the dwelling.
Depending on the municipality and the nature of the property, one or the other, or indeed both, may apply. This is why a case-by-case check with the town hall is essential before any letting.
Why compliance protects the owner
Meeting these obligations is not merely an administrative constraint. A properly declared furnished rental, whose listings display the registration number and whose change-of-use situation is regularised, sits within a secure legal framework. Conversely, letting conducted outside these rules exposes the owner to difficulties, both with platforms and with municipalities.
For an owner, delegating these steps to a professional operator offers a clear benefit: compliance is ensured by contacts who understand the mechanisms and follow the evolution of local rules. This is one of the roles of serious management.
Entrust your property to Serava
Declaring a furnished tourist rental, obtaining the thirteen-digit registration number, and addressing the question of change of use all require careful reading of each municipality's own rules. Serava supports owners through these steps and offers a free assessment of their situation. You then follow the management of your property from a real-time owner portal, with full visibility over its operation and its compliance.