policy
Short-Term Rental Registration Policy Begins Enforcement, Affecting Sunshine Coast Property Owners
Residents who list homes for holiday stays in places such as Maroochydore and Caloundra must now register each property with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and follow new occupancy caps.
How we reported this
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has started enforcing its Short-Term Rental Accommodation Policy, which requires every operator to register properties online and meet zone-specific limits on rental days. The change applies to all listings on platforms that advertise stays under 90 consecutive days and covers suburbs inside the council boundaries.
Why the timing matters for the region
Tourism numbers have risen steadily since international flights resumed at Maroochydore Airport, increasing pressure on housing stock near the coast. Council officers say the registration system allows better tracking of properties that sit empty for long periods outside peak seasons while still generating income for owners.
Local residents who own a second dwelling or who occasionally rent a spare room now face a formal application process. Those who fail to register by the end of the current quarter risk fines that begin at several hundred dollars per listing. Tenants in long-term rentals are unaffected, yet some landlords have already notified agents they intend to shift properties into the short-term market to test the new rules.
Daily effects on households and visitors
A family in Buddina that lets its beachfront unit for two weeks each January must now complete the registration form, pay the annual fee and display the council-issued number on every advertisement. Neighbours in the same street can check the public register to confirm compliance. Holiday makers searching for a week-long stay in Noosaville will see fewer options once properties exceed the 60-day cap set for that zone.
The policy document released by the council states that data collected through registration will feed into future reviews of the planning scheme, including coastal development controls. Council staff will conduct random inspections starting next month, with priority given to complaints lodged through the existing customer service hotline.
Further guidance sessions for owners are scheduled at the Maroochydore administration centre in August. Operators who already hold a current development approval for tourist accommodation are still required to register but receive an expedited processing pathway. The next formal report on registration numbers is due before the council meeting in October.