Create your free welcome book
Create my bookAirbnb regulations in Nîmes: what the Le Meur Law changes from 2025
Nicknamed the "French Rome" for its exceptional ancient monuments — the Arena, the Maison Carree and the Tour Magne — Nimes is a city in the Gard department that attracts strong heritage and cultural tourism. The municipality maintains an open regulatory framework for short-term rentals, with no compensation or geographic restrictions.
120 days
Annual limit
50 000 €
Maximum fine
Not required
Compensation
Rental day limit in Nîmes
In Nîmes, primary residences can only be rented as vacation accommodation for 120 days per year. Nimes retains the national cap of 120 days per year for a primary residence rented as furnished tourist accommodation. The city, seeking to strengthen its tourist appeal against competition from Montpellier and Avignon, has chosen not to reduce this threshold. The successful UNESCO candidacy for the Maison Carree in 2023 reinforced the desire to develop the accommodation supply.
Booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo) must block listings in Nîmes beyond 120 days. Any excess exposes the owner to a fine of up to 50 000 €.
Usage change and compensation in Nîmes
To convert a property into a vacation rental in Nîmes, a usage change authorization is required. Compensation: Not required.
Nimes does not require any compensation for changing the use of a dwelling to furnished tourist accommodation. The city considers that the tourist rental stock remains proportionate to the local property market and that this supply contributes positively to the Nimes tourist economy, particularly during the ferias and shows at the Arena.
Quotas and restrictions in Nîmes
No quota
No quota system is applied in Nimes. The municipality does not restrict the number of furnished tourist accommodations, even in the historic center around the Arena and the Carre d'Art. With hotel capacity in Nimes being limited relative to peak visitor numbers (ferias, Nimes festival, corridas), furnished tourist accommodation plays an appreciated complementary role.
Fines and enforcement in Nîmes
In Nîmes, property owners in violation face fines of up to 50 000 €.
Legal penalties apply: up to €10,000 for failure to register and €50,000 for change of use violations. Inspections in Nimes are carried out on an occasional basis, without a dedicated team. City hall relies on cross-referencing platform data and reports from local residents.
Specific rules in Nîmes
- Mandatory city hall registration with a number to display on all listings
- No compensation or quotas required
- Tourist tax collected by online booking platforms
- Compliance with safety and accessibility standards for properties in the old center
- Recommended verification of home insurance covering furnished tourist rental activity
Energy rating (DPE): The old center of Nimes contains a dense Mediterranean building heritage: limestone buildings with shutters, private mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries and narrow townhouses. The hot, dry Gard climate makes air conditioning as important as heating for guest comfort. Poorly insulated older properties may be rated DPE E or F.
Le Meur Law: the complete guide for property owners
Discover all measures of the Le Meur Law 2025: taxation, energy ratings, national registration, co-ownership, and mayoral powers.
See also: regulations in nearby cities
Frequently asked questions
Yes, rental is authorized without specific restrictions in the center of Nimes, including near the Arena. City hall registration is mandatory and the limit is 120 days per year for the primary residence. No compensation is required.
No, the rules remain the same year-round. However, the Pentecost Feria and the Harvest Feria generate considerable demand peaks, with rates that can triple. This is a very profitable period for well-located furnished accommodation owners.
Yes, Nimes applies a significantly more flexible framework than Montpellier. No compensation, no quotas, no restrictive zoning. Only registration and compliance with the 120-day cap are mandatory, making it one of the most accessible major cities in southern France for Airbnb rental.
Properties in the old center of Nimes, often built in limestone, may have an unfavorable energy rating. Properties rated G are no longer eligible for furnished rental since 2025. Energy renovation grants are available, but work within the historic monuments perimeter must be approved by the Architecte des Batiments de France.
Renting in Nîmes? Prepare now
Create a professional welcome book for your guests and ensure smooth and compliant management of your rentals in Nîmes.
Create my book for free