Tourism Act: Draft Code of Good Practice for Short-Term Rentals

Posted 13 March 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Tourism

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Tourism has released a draft code of good practice for short-term rentals for public comment, emphasizing regulatory and bylaw compliance.

In terms of the Tourism Act, No. 3 of 2014, the Department of Tourism has gazetted a draft code of good practice aimed at the short-term rental sector. Following a media statement issued on 16 March 2026, the Minister of Tourism has invited stakeholders to submit written comments on the proposals by no later than 12 May 2026.

The draft code is intended to provide a framework of non-binding guidelines for all tourism-specific short-term rental stakeholders. This initiative serves as an interim measure while the Department prepares substantive amendments to the Tourism Act, No. 3 of 2014. The primary objective of the code is to improve oversight and ensure that the sector aligns with broader tourism policy goals.

A central feature of the draft proposals is the emphasis on regulatory and municipal bylaw compliance. The code seeks to address the operational standards of various industry participants, including:

  • Short-term rental platforms and digital intermediaries;
  • Individual property owners and hosts;
  • Tourism industry associations; and
  • Local government authorities responsible for zoning and safety bylaws.

Click here to view the Minister’s media statement and draft code details.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Professional advisors in the property or tourism sectors should review the draft to understand the Department’s shift toward stricter bylaw and regulatory compliance for residential-based rentals.
  • For your business: Firms managing short-term rental portfolios must assess current operations against the draft code’s emphasis on local bylaw compliance to mitigate future enforcement risks.
  • For your clients: Clients operating as short-term rental hosts should be advised to submit comments by the 12 May 2026 deadline, particularly regarding how the code may influence future mandatory amendments to the Tourism Act, No. 3 of 2014.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/tourism-short-term-rental-good-practice-code-out-for-comment

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