policy
Sunshine Coast Short-Term Rental Referendum: Timeline for Maroochydore and Caloundra Property Owners
Residents in Sunshine Coast postcodes will first notice effects from any approved rules on holiday lets after the October 2026 ballot count and subsequent council implementation.
How we reported this
The Sunshine Coast Council will place a ballot measure before voters on 24 October 2026 to decide on new caps and registration rules for short-term rentals. The measure directly affects property owners and operators in Maroochydore, Caloundra, Mooloolaba and surrounding suburbs who list homes on platforms for periods under 90 days.
State housing pressures have prompted the local vote. Council officers prepared the question after receiving more than 1,200 submissions during the 2025 consultation period on visitor accommodation. The referendum follows changes to Queensland planning laws that allow regional councils to set their own letting limits without further state approval.
Daily effects for local households and businesses
Under the proposed rules, properties within 200 metres of the coastline would face a 90-day annual letting cap. Owners of units in Maroochydore would need to register each listing with the council and pay an annual fee of $250. Tenants in long-term rentals could see fewer competing holiday bookings in their buildings, while operators of approved short-term lets would face new compliance checks every six months.
Council records from June 2026 list 4,850 active short-term rental listings across the region. Policy analysts note that any approved caps would take effect from 1 July 2027, giving owners until the end of the current financial year to adjust bookings or apply for exemptions on medical or family grounds.
Key dates after the vote
Counting of ballot papers begins on the evening of 24 October and is expected to conclude within 72 hours. If the measure passes, the council must publish final regulations by March 2027 and begin processing registrations from April. Property owners will receive notification letters in May 2027 outlining their individual compliance requirements and any transition payments available for those who remove listings.
Local advocates note that the full impact on rental supply and tourism bookings will not appear until the 2027-28 summer season. The legislation states that enforcement officers will begin inspections only after the registration portal closes on 30 June 2027.