I bought an apartment in Dubai: how holiday letting works
· 7 min
Holiday rental licence in Catalonia: requirements, HUTB and the end of holiday lets in Barcelona (2028)
Catalonia has some of the most specific holiday rental rules in Spain and, in Barcelona, a concrete deadline. We explain the HUTB number, the regional register and what you should know before buying or investing.
Leticia Heres · · 2 min read
Catalonia is one of the autonomous communities with the most specific holiday rental rules in Spain (and, in Barcelona's case, with a concrete deadline every owner should know about before buying or investing).
The HUTB number and the regional register
Any legal holiday rental home in Catalonia must have a municipal licence number in the format HUTB-XXXXXX and be registered in the Registro de Turismo de Cataluña (Catalan Tourism Register). You can check the status of any HUTB in real time on the Generalitat's Cercador d’Establiments i Activitats Turístiques (search tool for tourist establishments and activities) by entering the licence number.
Important note: in May 2026 the Tribunal Supremo (Spain's Supreme Court) struck down the state Registro Único (NRUA), so it is no longer correct to require that additional state identifier. You can read the details in our article on the Supreme Court ruling. The Catalan regional register (HUTB) remains fully in force and is the one that really matters in practice.
The limit in municipalities with housing stress
In the 262 Catalan municipalities declared areas of housing stress, you also need a specific planning licence, subject to a cap of 10 holiday rental homes per 100 inhabitants and valid for five years, after which it must be renewed.
Barcelona: the date every owner should know
On 21 June 2024, the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, announced that the city council will not extend HUT licences when the current planning framework expires on 24 November 2028.
- Until 24 November 2028: current HUT licences remain fully valid. The activity can continue as normal, including transferring the licence together with the home.
- After 24 November 2028: if the legal appeals lodged do not succeed, the licences would be extinguished. The home could then be used for residential letting, seasonal letting (32 days or more) or your own use.
If you are thinking of buying a home with a HUT licence in Barcelona as a long-term investment, this date should be part of your profitability calculation. Outside the city of Barcelona, each Catalan municipality sets its own rules within the regional framework.
Would you rather someone handled it for you?
At beBalmy we help you with all the management of your holiday rental licence and the registration of your home in Catalonia. Tell us about your situation and we'll tell you how we can help.
Frequently asked questions
Is the state NRUA identifier still required in Catalonia?
No. In May 2026 the Tribunal Supremo struck down the state Registro Único (NRUA). The register that remains in force and can be required in Catalonia is the regional one, with the HUTB number.
What will happen to my HUT licence in Barcelona after 2028?
If the legal appeals lodged against the council's decision do not succeed, current HUT licences in Barcelona would be extinguished on 24 November 2028, when the current planning framework expires. Until that date, the licences remain fully valid.
Is there a cap on holiday rental licences in every municipality in Catalonia?
The limit of 10 holiday rental homes per 100 inhabitants, with a specific planning licence, applies in the 262 Catalan municipalities declared areas of housing stress. Outside those areas, each municipality sets its own rules within the regional framework.
Get in touch
Ready to earn more from your property?
We tell you what your property could earn, what needs work first and what we take off your hands. Free, with no commitment.