All vacation rentals must register; registration does not guarantee legalization

ORANJESTAD — The Council of Ministers has approved a plan to register and regulate vacation rentals in Aruba. All existing properties must register, including those already holding permits. Registration will remain open for three months, with dates to be announced.

Properties operating before November 1, 2026, that register will be assessed as existing uses. This is a reference date, not the opening of registration. Projects not yet operating may qualify for transitional arrangements if they demonstrate binding commitments made before that date, such as construction or financing contracts.

Registration does not automatically grant a permit or the right to expand. The government says existing rights will be respected. Unregistered properties will fall outside the arrangements and will not be considered for legalization.

Assessments will distinguish three categories: green, covering town centers and tourism zones where legalization may be possible under conditions; yellow, covering residential and transformation zones requiring individual assessment; and red, covering nature and other designated areas where there will be no general legalization.

Reviews will consider unit numbers, guest capacity, fire safety, parking, accessibility, neighborhood nuisance, wastewater, and environmental and heritage protection. A temporary policy tolerating registered existing uses still requires legal review and approval. It will not allow new properties or expansion.

New plans may also be registered in central Oranjestad and San Nicolas, where the current ROPV allows a combined maximum of 100 units. Registration does not constitute approval. New projects outside these centers are excluded from this arrangement.

A task force will announce the digital registration process and required documents. Changes to spatial planning rules will undergo public consultation before final decisions.