Montmartre Referendum on Short-Term Rental Limits Set for September Ballot in 18th Arrondissement

The Paris city council placed a local ballot measure on the September referendum that would cap short-term rentals at 90 days per year inside the 18th arrondissement. Property owners who list apartments on platforms in Montmartre would face the new annual limit if voters approve the change.

City records show the measure reached the ballot after housing groups gathered the required petition signatures last spring. The vote arrives as the number of registered short-term listings in the 18th arrondissement continues to climb, according to the most recent registration data released by the mairie.

Families searching for year-round apartments along Rue des Abbesses or near Place du Tertre would compete against fewer tourist bookings if the cap takes hold. Landlords who currently earn more from weekly visitor stays would need to decide whether to switch units to longer leases or accept the day restriction and associated penalties.

Policy Analysts and Resident Association Comments

Policy analysts say the legislation requires platforms to submit quarterly usage reports to city enforcement staff, a step that mirrors rules already operating in two other Paris arrondissements. Resident association representatives note that the cap would apply only inside the 18th, leaving rules unchanged for properties just across the boundary in the 9th or 17th.

Community voices from local tenant groups describe how some two-bedroom flats near the Butte have remained listed for tourists for most of the year, reducing the pool of units available for standard leases. They point to the measure's provision for a public registry of compliant properties as a tool residents could check before signing new contracts.

Voter Materials and Expected Timeline

The government says the policy will begin enforcement in January 2027 if the referendum passes, with printed guides scheduled for distribution through every mairie in the 18th arrondissement by the end of July. Registered voters in the district will receive the full text of the measure along with their ballot packets.

City budget papers list the current cost of processing short-term rental registrations at roughly the same level allocated for housing inspections last year. The referendum remains limited to the 18th arrondissement, so only residents listed on the local electoral rolls will cast ballots on the question.