Short-Term Accommodation Regulation Bill 2026 to cap nightly listings on Sunshine Coast

The Short-Term Accommodation Regulation Bill 2026 introduces a 90-night annual limit on short-term rental listings in designated coastal zones, applying to operators across the Sunshine Coast local government area. The measure targets properties within 500 metres of the shoreline and requires registration through the state portal before any booking platform listing can proceed. Existing operators with more than 60 nights booked in the prior 12 months receive a one-year transition period.

State budget papers released in May allocated $4.8 million over three years to establish the registration system and compliance checks. The legislation responds to a 2025 Productivity Commission report that documented a 27 per cent rise in short-term rental dwellings in Queensland coastal regions between 2022 and 2025. Sunshine Coast Council planning documents show 3,142 active short-term rental listings in the region as of March 2026.

Effects on local housing supply and visitor services

Residents seeking long-term rentals in Maroochydore and Mooloolaba stand to gain from the removal of properties currently listed year-round on booking platforms. The bill directs councils to publish quarterly data on how many dwellings shift from short-term to permanent rental use. Tourism operators note that peak-season visitor accommodation in Noosa Heads and Alexandra Headland will remain unaffected because the cap applies only outside designated holiday periods.

Property owners who rely on short-term income for mortgage payments will need to adjust business models or convert listings to long-term leases. The legislation states that non-compliance carries fines starting at $5,500 for the first offence. Local real estate agents report that 18 per cent of current short-term rental owners in the region already hold multiple properties, meaning the cap will apply separately to each address.

Forward modelling by the Department of Housing projects an additional 420 dwellings entering the permanent rental market on the Sunshine Coast by mid-2028 if compliance reaches 75 per cent. The bill does not provide direct funding for enforcement officers, leaving day-to-day monitoring to local council staff.

Next steps for implementation

The bill passed its second reading on 2 July and is scheduled for committee review in August. Public submissions close on 29 July. The government has indicated that the registration portal will open in October, allowing operators to apply for exemptions tied to heritage-listed properties or those used exclusively for medical accommodation. Council planning officers will receive training on the new rules in November.