Is Airbnb legal in Noosa Heads?

In Noosa Heads, Queensland, short stay letting regulations are governed by the Noosa Shire Council's local law, which has been in effect since February 2022. The primary goal of this legislation is to regulate short stay accommodations in order to minimize their impact on residential amenity and the local community.

Key Regulations:

1. Approval Requirement: All properties intended for short stay letting must obtain a one-off approval from the Council. This approval must be renewed annually as long as the property continues to operate under short stay letting. Exemptions are in place for certain properties, including visitor accommodation only sites, motels, hotels, and personal holiday homes not let for commercial gain.

2. Definition of Short Stay Letting: Short stay letting is defined as the provision of premises for temporary use by guests (for less than three consecutive months), excluding shared facilities, home hosted accommodations, hotels, hostels, and backpacker accommodations.

3. Planning Rights: Properties must possess lawful town planning rights to operate as short stay accommodations, which could stem from development approvals, accepted development under the Noosa Plan 2020, or existing use rights prior to the commencement of this law.

4. Application Process: Interested property owners must submit an application form along with relevant documentation (such as layout plans, proof of prior use, etc.) and pay the associated fees. Application and annual renewal fees can vary significantly based on the property type.

5. Conditions and Code of Conduct: Properties must comply with strict conditions that include appointing a contact person for managing complaints, maintaining a register of guests and complaints, and abiding by a code of conduct to ensure guest behavior does not disturb the surrounding residential community.

6. Emergency Contact and Signage: A prominent approval notice must be displayed at the property, featuring contact information for the Council's 24/7 complaint hotline. The designated contact person must be reachable within 30 minutes and reside within a 20km radius of the property.

7. Noise and Nuisance Management: The operation of short stay premises must not create nuisances, including excessive noise or disturbances to neighbors. Providers are responsible for ensuring compliance with behavioral standards set out in the code of conduct.

8. Complaints Handling: Complaints are directed to the Council’s hotline. The property’s contact person must actively address complaints to ensure resolution, or risk enforcement action from the Council if they fail to respond adequately.

9. Insurance: Property owners must maintain broad public liability insurance for not less than $10 million.

In summary, Noosa Heads has implemented a comprehensive framework for managing short stay lettings, aiming to balance the interests of tourists and the local community while safeguarding residential amenity and promoting responsible hosting practices.