Comment on the City’s draft Short-Term Letting By-law
We invite you to comment on our draft Short-Term Letting By-law until 5 October 2026.
About
The proposed By-law aims to improve compliance with the City’s
existing Rates Policy, which requires that commercial property rates be paid for premises used for commercial short-term letting.
Commercial rates do not apply to:
- people part-time letting some of their residence to supplement income, or
- long-term rentals, as these properties are considered the primary residence of the tenant.
To distinguish between properties used for short-term letting, the City recently amended its Rates Policy, following a public participation process.
Amendments included:
- Properties used for short-term letting for 50% or less of their annual room-night capacity may continue to be categorised as residential properties, provided it meets the City’s Rates Policy requirements.
- Properties used for short-term letting for more than 50% of their annual room-night capacity will be regarded as commercial accommodation and will be rated accordingly.
In summary, the By-law will require:
- Booking platforms, owners and operators to provide information for registration and to share data on listing availability and occupancy to support the City’s property rating categorisation process;
- All properties listed on any booking platform to be registered with the City;
- That a City-issued STL registration number be displayed on all listings advertised on a booking platform; and
- Booking platforms, owners and operators to remove any listing that does not display a City-issued STL registration number.
The proposed By-law will apply to:
- owners and operators of properties listed on a booking platform; and
- booking platforms that advertise short-term letting accommodation.
Any changes to property rating categories will take place from 1 July 2027.
In terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, you can submit comments to the municipality in respect of the draft by-law.
Access the documents:
Comment period
Submit your comments from
5 August - 5 October 2026.
Submit your comment
You may submit your comments via the following channels:
Online
Submit your comment online.
Email
Email your comments to
STL@capetown.gov.za.
Delivery
Deliver your written comments by hand to your
local library or
Subcouncil office.
Please note
Our Public Participation Unit will assist you if you would like to submit comments but have a disability or are unable to read or write. Please call
0800 212 176 for assistance.
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