policy
Queensland Short-Term Rental Regulation Bill and Gold Coast Host Registration Rules
Gold Coast property owners listing homes on platforms must register under the same statewide rules now applied across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Cairns.
How we reported this
The Queensland Short-Term Rental Accommodation Regulation Bill requires hosts in every local government area to register each property with the state government before accepting bookings. The rules apply equally in the City of Gold Coast, Brisbane City Council and regional centres such as Cairns Regional Council.
The legislation follows earlier planning reforms that gave councils limited powers over short-term rentals. Statewide registration replaces the patchwork of local codes that previously operated in different cities.
Registration requirements for Gold Coast hosts
Under the bill a Gold Coast host must supply proof of building compliance, public liability insurance and neighbour notification before a registration number is issued. The same documents are required in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast, though the City of Gold Coast has indicated it will process applications through its existing online portal used for development approvals.
Residents in Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach who rent out apartments will pay the same annual fee as hosts in Fortitude Valley or Noosa. Properties used for events or parties face additional conditions that mirror those already enforced in Cairns.
Comparison with other Queensland cities
Gold Coast operators face identical record-keeping obligations to those in Brisbane yet encounter a higher volume of inspections because the city contains more strata-titled buildings. Local advocates note that enforcement teams in the City of Gold Coast will draw on the same state database used by councils in Townsville and Mackay.
The legislation states that unregistered listings must be removed from platforms within 28 days of the registration deadline. The government says the policy will begin on 1 January 2027, after which the Department of Housing will publish quarterly compliance reports broken down by local government area.
Policy analysts say the uniform framework removes the previous advantage some Gold Coast hosts held when neighbouring councils maintained lighter requirements. Hosts in Robina or Coomera will therefore operate under the same rules that now govern listings near the 2032 Olympic venues at the Brisbane Cricket Ground and the Gold Coast Convention Centre.