Playa del Carmen Launches Vacation Rental Regularization Drive, 15% of Owners Begin Process

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Municipal authorities have launched a verification process for properties used as vacation rentals, with officials reporting that about 15% of owners or managers have already begun the regularization process.

Darwin Covarrubias, head of the city’s Civil Protection, Risk Prevention and Fire Department, said the municipal government is currently in an invitation phase, urging business owners and property managers to get their accommodations in order before formal inspection visits begin.

He explained the goal is not to stop the commercial activity but to regulate its operation under safety standards, particularly for facilities that host temporary visitors, many of which operate in houses, rooms, or entire buildings.

Those seeking to regularize must start by applying for an operating license through the municipal Revenue Department, submit a Single Verification Form, and then undergo a Civil Protection inspection, which issues technical observations before the administrative process concludes.

Covarrubias noted several owners have already visited municipal offices, though the exact number is still being updated as the process continues and new cases are added daily.

One of the main inspection focuses is gas installations, including the condition of pipes and the validity and state of containers, as these systems represent one of the highest risk factors in temporary lodging properties.

Inspectors are also checking for the existence and functionality of fire extinguishers, first aid kits, visible signage with emergency numbers, and particularly evacuation conditions in case of fire or accident.

For buildings or vertical developments used for vacation rentals, the risk level is determined by the number of floors, the quantity of people accommodated, and the size of gas installations, with each property receiving a specific assessment.

Properties lacking emergency exits will be subject to regularization measures to comply with this requirement, considered a priority element within Civil Protection regulations.

Covarrubias emphasized that staff training for those responsible for these spaces will be a major inspection focus, noting that having safety equipment isn’t enough without the knowledge to act in an emergency.

The department is maintaining a preventive phase for now but warned that in the coming weeks, direct visits will begin to properties that haven’t started their paperwork, using an already integrated database of establishments and units dedicated to this activity.

Once the invitation phase concludes, inspections will identify delays and possible non-compliance, which could result in financial penalties depending on each case.

Covarrubias specified that April is the deadline for more owners to voluntarily join the process before entering a stricter phase of municipal supervision.