Short-term rental in Marrakech: what the law says in 2026
By Robin Moreau
Do you need authorisation to rent short-term in Marrakech?
Yes. Since the implementing decree of Law 80-14 (July 2023), any short-term tourist rental requires an operating authorisation issued by the competent local authority.
Decree n° 2-23-441 of 13 July 2023, published in the Official Bulletin, sets out how Law 80-14 on tourist accommodation establishments is applied. It covers riads, villas and apartments let to tourists, not only classified hotels.
The authorisation request is processed by the Regional Investment Centre (CRI), which forwards the file to the competent commission. The final decision rests with the wali or governor, depending on where the property is located. Once granted, the authorisation is valid for five years.
What is the STDN, and why register on it?
The STDN (Système de Télédéclaration des Nuitées) is the Ministry of Tourism's official platform on which every tourist accommodation must register and declare its stays.
Available at stdn.ma, this online declaration has become mandatory for tourist accommodation establishments, riads and guesthouses included. Registration generates a registration number, which is meant to appear on listings published on booking platforms.
This daily declaration of stays also feeds Morocco's official tourism statistics — and, in practice, underpins the collection of the tourist tax, which the host remits to the municipality.
What criteria are checked before authorisation is granted?
Compliance with safety standards — electrical and gas installations, fire prevention — and the regularity of the property's legal situation.
The review focuses in particular on building safety: electrical and gas installations up to standard, fire prevention measures. These are points we systematically check with every owner before a property goes live.
An incomplete file or a non-compliant property delays authorisation. This is why the step is worth anticipating, ideally before the first listing is even published.
Will the regulatory framework change further?
Yes — several texts complementing Law 80-14 are in preparation to bring unclassified accommodation into the official inventory, with an announced growth target for the sector from 2027.
Morocco's tourist accommodation sector is going through an active regularisation phase. New regulatory texts, published or announced since 2025, aim to bring part of today's undeclared rental stock into the official framework.
We track these developments for our partner owners and update this article accordingly. For any significant decision, guidance from a legal professional or the local authorities remains advisable.
SOURCES
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