Short-term rental is described as the rental of a residential dwelling unit in whole or in part to a transient occupant usually tourists and business people for short-term periods usually for just a few weeks. It is often referred to as Airbnb, WGs, or Wohngemeinschaften (shared living arrangements).

It can range from very basic furniture to a fully furnished dwelling, including crockery, cutlery, and linen.

Transient occupants or guests are defined as people who rent out a place other than their permanent place of residence for a short-term period.

There is no specific national permit, license, or registration for short-term rental owners in Austria, instead, you may be required to apply for all the trade law permits that ensure the safety of your guests at multiple levels of government and register for licenses such as fire, building, zoning permits, etc., at your local jurisdiction.

Vienna’s building code avoids commercial use of apartments in "residential" zoning, even in places where other residents have previously consented to short-term rental operations in the apartments.

It is important to check with both state and local authorities for the necessary registrations. Check your sub-national jurisdiction page on this website to access the latest information on the laws and regulations that applies to your short-term rental properties in Austria.