policy
Queensland Short-term Rental Registration Bill and Gold Coast Property Listings
Gold Coast owners offering holiday lets must register properties with the state by December 2026 under the new rules, which will change listing practices and local compliance costs.
How we reported this
The Queensland Short-term Rental Registration Bill passed state parliament in June 2026 and requires every short-term rental operator on the Gold Coast to register their property through a central state portal from 1 September. Hosts in suburbs such as Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Coolangatta fall under the scheme, which applies to any dwelling advertised for stays under 90 days.
Tourism numbers on the Gold Coast have risen steadily since 2023, with the state government recording more than 3.2 million domestic visitors in the 2024-25 financial year. The bill responds to pressure from local councils that have reported growing numbers of unregistered listings affecting residential amenity and council rates collection.
Registration steps for Gold Coast hosts
Under the legislation, each property must supply a unique registration number on every booking platform advertisement. Owners pay an annual fee set by regulation and must meet minimum safety standards checked by local building certifiers. Failure to register can result in fines starting at $5,000 per property, with enforcement handled jointly by the state and Gold Coast City Council.
Local real estate agents who manage holiday homes report that clients are already updating listings to include the required number. Some owners in Robina and Mermaid Beach have indicated they will shift properties to longer-term leases rather than absorb the new compliance costs.
Changes for residents and visitors
Gold Coast residents seeking short-term accommodation will see fewer unregistered listings on major platforms after the transition date. The government projects that registration data will feed into council planning decisions on visitor density in high-tourism zones such as the Spit and Broadwater.
The next stage involves the release of the registration portal in August 2026, followed by a three-month education period before penalties begin. Gold Coast City Council has stated it will incorporate the new data into its 2027 planning scheme review.