Without a registration number, a furnished holiday let does not stay visible on the platforms for long. Since declaration became universal, obtaining this number has become the very first step in a short-term rental project — before the photos and the furniture. Here is the procedure, in order, for a property on the Opal Coast as anywhere else.
What exactly is this number for
The registration number is the identifier your commune assigns to your property when you declare its activity as a furnished holiday let. It is not an authorisation to let: it allows communes to know which properties are being let, for how many nights, and to check that the applicable ceilings are being observed.
It is also the point of connection with the platforms. Airbnb, Booking and Abritel pass on to communes the nights data attached to each number, and remove listings without a valid identifier. An owner who puts off this formality is not only taking a legal risk: they are taking the very concrete risk of seeing their listing disappear at the worst possible moment.
Since the Le Meur Act and the switch to the national online service on 20 May 2026, declaration applies to all furnished holiday lets, main residences included.
Who has to declare a furnished holiday let
The rule has become simple: anyone making a furnished property available to short-stay guests must declare it. That covers more situations than people imagine.
- The owner letting their second home year-round on the platforms.
- The private individual letting their main residence for a few weekends, including very occasionally.
- The joint ownership or property company that owns the asset, declaring in the name of the structure.
- The operator running a professional sublet, with the owner’s written consent. This is a perfectly workable arrangement, one we support regularly.
One point to watch: the declaration is made per property, not per owner. If you own a studio in Calais and a flat in Wimereux, you will obtain two separate numbers, each attached to its own commune.
The information to gather before you start
The process is quick when the file is ready, and tiresome when you have to hunt for documents along the way. Prepare:
- Your full identity and contact details, as the declaring party.
- The precise address of the property, with the building, floor and door number where applicable.
- The cadastral or tax references of the premises. Communes frequently ask for the fixed reference number shown on your property tax notice: have that notice to hand.
- The characteristics of the property: type, number of rooms, number of beds, maximum capacity.
- The status of the property: main residence or not, since the applicable rules differ.
- Where applicable, your classification decision as a furnished holiday let and your change-of-use authorisation.
Take five minutes to check that this information is consistent with your future listing. A capacity declared as four people and advertised as six on the platform is exactly the kind of discrepancy that invites an inspection.
The procedure, step by step
Step 1 — Identify the right channel. Since the switch, declaration goes through the national online registration service. Some communes maintain a dedicated page that points to that service. If in doubt, a call to your town hall’s planning department settles the question in two minutes.
Step 2 — Create your declaring account and enter the information gathered above. Allow fifteen to thirty minutes for a first property, far less for subsequent ones.
Step 3 — Submit and keep the acknowledgement. You receive a declaration number, to be filed carefully with your management documents. Print it or save it: you will need it for every new platform.
Step 4 — Add the number to all your listings, without exception, including your own direct booking site if you have one.
Where to display your registration number
Each platform provides a dedicated field in the listing settings, generally in the section on regulations or legal information. Do not simply slip it into the description text: if it is not entered in the official field, it is not recognised.
Three checks are worth making once a year:
- The number is properly entered on each of your listings — Airbnb, Booking, Abritel and others.
- It matches the right property, if you manage several.
- It also appears on your direct booking materials: website, confirmation email or rental agreement.
Three procedures never to be confused
Many owners think they have done everything once the declaration is made. In fact there are three different procedures, and none replaces another.
| Procedure | Purpose | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration and registration number | Record the let and allow nights to be monitored | The commune, via the online service |
| Change-of-use authorisation | Allow a residential property to be let as a furnished holiday let | The commune, where the procedure applies |
| Furnished holiday let classification | Award a comfort level from 1 to 5 stars, with tax effects | An accredited body |
The second row is the one that most often catches people out, particularly in communes that have introduced quotas or a compensation requirement.
The five mistakes we see most often
Working with owners around Calais, Dunkirk and the Audomarois, we come across almost always the same sticking points.
- Waiting for the first booking before declaring. The procedure must come before going live, not after.
- Confusing the communal registration number with the platform’s internal identifier. They are two different things: only the first is a declaration number.
- Forgetting a secondary platform. The number is on Airbnb but not on Abritel, and it is that listing which gets pulled.
- Declaring an approximate capacity, often rounded up to look good. The gap with the listing is noticed immediately.
- Filing nothing. Without a saved acknowledgement, the slightest check becomes a headache, particularly if you change manager or sell the property.
None of these mistakes is serious taken on its own. All are sorted out in a few minutes, provided you spot them before an inspection or a listing removal.
Change of circumstances, data entry error, resale
A declaration is not set in stone. You must update it as soon as anything substantial changes: capacity altered after works, a switch from main residence to second home, obtaining a classification, a change of owner or operator, or ceasing the activity.
If you spot an error after submission, correct it immediately rather than letting it run. Inaccurate information left online can be treated as a false declaration, and the penalty regime is not the same. As a reminder, the civil fine can reach €10,000 for failure to register and €20,000 for a false declaration.
Finally, bear in mind that the declaration has nothing to do with your tax obligations. Declaring your let at the town hall does not exempt you from declaring your income, nor from collecting tourist tax. On those subjects, speak to your town hall, your accountant or a legal professional: every situation deserves personalised advice.
At N&C Conciergerie, we regularly take on this compliance work for owners in Calais, Gravelines, Dunkirk, Saint-Omer and Boulogne-sur-Mer, before putting the property on the market. If you would rather someone handled it with you, contact our team or call us on 06.59.97.61.29.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to obtain a registration number? Entering the details online generally takes between fifteen and thirty minutes once the documents are gathered, and the number is issued very quickly in most communes. The actual time depends on the commune and the local procedure. Allow several weeks all the same if a change of use is also required.
Do I have to declare if I only let for two weekends a year? Yes. Declaration has been extended to all furnished holiday lets, including main residences let occasionally. The number of nights makes no difference to the obligation: it only determines compliance with the annual ceiling applicable in your commune, which may be lowered by resolution.
What happens if I let several properties? Each property is the subject of a separate declaration and receives its own number, attached to the commune where it is located. Then make sure you associate the right number with the right listing on each platform. Swapping two properties round is a common error, easy to correct but damaging if it goes unnoticed.
