Legislation and regulatory information for quality assured accommodation

Tourist Traffic Acts

This legislation sets out the requirements to operate as a statutory tourist accommodation in Ireland, including prescribed terms such as hotel, guesthouse, holiday hostel, youth hostel, caravan and camping park, and holiday camp. Any business using a prescribed term is required to register with Fáilte Ireland and meet the relevant regulatory criteria. 

Statutory compliance prerequisites

To be eligible, statutory accommodation providers are required to meet and provide evidence of all relevant statutory and regulatory obligations including, but not limited to:

• Planning and building regulations  
• Fire safety certification  
• Food safety and Health Service Executive (HSE) requirements, where applicable   
• Health and safety obligations 
• Public liability insurance

Your legal obligations

If you operate using a prescribed accommodation term, you are required to:  

• Register with Fáilte Ireland  
• Maintain compliance with regulations 
• Renew your registration annually 

Accommodation registers

Fáilte Ireland maintains public registers of registered statutory accommodation and lists of approved accommodation. These registers show the current registration or approval status of tourist accommodation.