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Short-term rental rules in Medellín

By the Grupo Brik team · Last reviewed

Pending expert review

This guide was drafted from the official sources listed at the end and checked against them on 30 September 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a Colombian lawyer or accountant, so treat it as general information, not legal or tax advice.

The short answer

Renting a home for less than 30 days is "vivienda turística" under Colombian law and requires registration in the Registro Nacional de Turismo (RNT), renewed every year between 1 January and 31 March. The building's registered bylaws must authorise tourist use, and in Medellín the property must also sit in a land-use zone where lodging is allowed. Check all three before you buy an apartment to rent to tourists.

What counts as a short-term rental

Ley 2068 de 2020 defines vivienda turística as renting or subletting a property for less than 30 days, or brokering such rentals. Anyone who rents out more than one property for under 30 days is presumed to be a tourism service provider. Every tourism provider must register in the RNT before offering the service.[1]

The checklist before you buy to rent

  1. Bylaws: the building's reglamento de propiedad horizontal, registered at the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos, must authorise tourist lodging. If it does not, the owners' assembly has to approve it and the change must be recorded in a public deed.
  2. Land use: in Medellín the property must be in a medium- or high-mixture zone of the land-use plan (POT, Acuerdo 48 de 2014); lodging is not allowed in low-mixture, predominantly residential areas. Check the property on the city's MapGIS or with a curaduría.
  3. RNT: register the unit in the Registro Nacional de Turismo, which is free, declaring that the bylaws authorise tourist use, and renew it every year between 1 January and 31 March.
  4. Advertising: show the RNT number in every ad and on every platform. Platforms must remove listings without an active RNT.
  5. Guests: keep the guest register (Tarjeta de Registro de Alojamiento) and report foreign guests to Migración Colombia through SIRE.
  6. Insurance: accommodation providers must carry liability insurance for guests and third parties.

Sources: [3],[5],[6],[2],[4],[1],[7]

The Alcaldía de Medellín's own list of requirements for legal short-stay operation also includes a construction licence that allows short-stay lodging, a RUT and commercial registration, a fire-safety certificate and a code of conduct against the sexual exploitation of children.[5]

Enforcement and fines

Operating without the RNT, or without renewing it, is an infraction under Ley 2068 de 2020; repeat offenders have their RNT suspended automatically and it can be cancelled for up to five years. The Alcaldía de Medellín says fines can reach 2,000 monthly minimum wages, plus closure.[1],[8]

Building administrators must report tourist rentals that the bylaws do not authorise or that lack an RNT, and an owner who operates without the bylaw authorisation faces the sanctions of the propiedad horizontal law.[3]

In July 2025 the Alcaldía said it had asked for more than 2,000 RNTs to be annulled and named El Poblado, Laureles, Belén, La Candelaria and Santa Elena as priority areas, which it said hold about 80% of the city's short-term rental supply.[9]

Changes under discussion

On 1 July 2026 the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism published a draft decree to replace part of the RNT rules. Among other changes it would require one RNT per unit and proof of the building's authorisation. It is a draft, not law, as of the date this guide was checked.[10]

The tourism levy

Tourism providers, including vivienda turística, pay a contribution of 2.5 per thousand of operating income to the tourism fund (FONTUR). The Ministry says vivienda turística that only provides the service occasionally is exempt. Income tax and any VAT on the rental income depend on your situation; ask a Colombian accountant.[1],[4]

Next steps

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Medellín?

Yes, if the unit is registered in the Registro Nacional de Turismo, the building's registered bylaws authorise tourist use and the property is in a land-use zone where lodging is allowed. Operating without these can bring fines, closure and cancellation of the RNT.[1],[3],[5]

How long is a short-term rental in Colombia?

Less than 30 days. Renting or subletting a property for under 30 days is vivienda turística under Ley 2068 de 2020.[1]

Does the RNT have to be renewed?

Yes, every year between 1 January and 31 March. An RNT that is not renewed is suspended automatically.[2]

Can a building ban short-term rentals?

Tourist use needs authorisation in the building's registered bylaws; if the bylaws do not authorise it, the owners' assembly must approve it and record the change in a public deed.[3],[5]

Sources

  1. Ley 2068 de 2020 (Ley General de Turismo). Función Pública, Gestor Normativo. https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=172558. Accessed .
  2. Decreto 1836 de 2021 (Registro Nacional de Turismo y plataformas). Función Pública, Gestor Normativo. https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=175266. Accessed .
  3. Ley 1558 de 2012, artículo 34. Función Pública, Gestor Normativo. https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=48321. Accessed .
  4. Preguntas frecuentes relacionadas con formalización turística. Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo. https://www.mincit.gov.co/minturismo/analisis-sectorial-y-promocion/preguntas-frecuentes-relacionadas-con-formalizacio. Accessed .
  5. Normatividad y buenas prácticas para la operación legal de viviendas de renta corta en Medellín (21 Aug 2026). Alcaldía de Medellín. https://www.medellin.gov.co/es/sala-de-prensa/noticias/normatividad-y-buenas-practicas-para-la-operacion-legal-de-viviendas-de-renta-corta-en-medellin/. Accessed .
  6. Acuerdo 48 de 2014, Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial (Gaceta Oficial 4267). Alcaldía de Medellín. https://www.medellin.gov.co/es/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Gaceta-4267-Acuerdo-48-2014-POT.pdf. Accessed .
  7. Registro de Extranjeros SIRE. Migración Colombia. https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/tramites-y-servicios/aplicativos/registro-sire. Accessed .
  8. Medellín intensifica su lucha contra la operación ilegal de viviendas turísticas (1 Mar 2024). Alcaldía de Medellín. https://www.medellin.gov.co/es/sala-de-prensa/noticias/medellin-intensifica-su-lucha-contra-la-operacion-ilegal-de-viviendas-turisticas/. Accessed .
  9. Medellín refuerza controles para frenar el uso indebido de viviendas como alojamientos temporales (14 Jul 2025). Alcaldía de Medellín. https://www.medellin.gov.co/es/sala-de-prensa/noticias/medellin-refuerza-controles-para-frenar-el-uso-indebido-de-viviendas-como-alojamientos-temporales/. Accessed .
  10. Proyecto de decreto sobre el Registro Nacional de Turismo (1 Jul 2026). Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo. https://www.mincit.gov.co/normatividad/proyectos-de-normatividad/proyectos-de-decreto-2026/01-07-2026-mj-pd-rnt.aspx. Accessed .