Noise, parties and neighbours at your holiday rental or hotel: house rules, quiet hours and what Airbnb and Booking.com allow (2026)

Updated: 9 November 2026

One party can cost you your neighbours, your reviews and even your licence. We read the Spanish and Andalusian rules, the rules in Portugal, Italy and Greece and the official help pages of Airbnb and Booking.com (links at the end). Where we could not confirm something we say so. This is not legal advice: check with your adviser and your town hall.

Spain (Andalusia): what you must tell guests

Decree 28/2016 on holiday homes (regional consolidated text):

Art. 6.2.d: tell guests the house rules of the owners' association.
The same article requires informing them of local rules on noise and vibration.
Art. 2.5: if a guest breaks their obligations, you may refuse the stay and ask them to leave.
You may also ask the police to remove anyone who breaks «the usual rules of social coexistence».
Art. 6.2.c: keep the official complaint forms of the Junta available.

Spain: quiet hours and local bylaws

The Noise Act 37/2003 does not cover household or neighbour noise while it stays within tolerable limits under local bylaws and customs (art. 2.2.a).
Above that, bylaws may treat it as an offence (art. 28.5.b). The Act sets no hours.
In Andalusia, Decree 6/2012 sets the acoustic periods: day 07:00-19:00, evening 19:00-23:00, night 23:00-07:00.
The same decree leaves offences for household or neighbour noise to each town hall (art. 4.2.b).
Seville and Cádiz bylaws: we have not read them. Check your own municipality.

Portugal

Local accommodation (DL 128/2014, amended by Law 62/2018 and DL 76/2024): the information book must include noise rules and care not to disturb neighbours (art. 12).
It must be in Portuguese, English and at least two more languages. In apartment buildings, add the building rules.
You must give your contact details to the condominium.
Art. 9: with more than half of the building's shares and for repeated, proven disturbance, the condominium can oppose your activity before the town hall.
Noise: according to the Oliveira de Azeméis municipal regulation, which develops the General Noise Regulation (DL 9/2007), night runs 23:00-07:00 and police can order noise to stop at once. We could not open the DL 9/2007 text.

Italy and Greece

Italy: art. 659 of the Criminal Code punishes anyone who disturbs people's rest with shouting or noise: arrest of up to 3 months or a fine of up to EUR 309 (text read on Brocardi, unofficial).
Italy: municipal quiet hours not verified.
Greece: quiet hours exist (Police Order 3/1996). According to Lawspot (unofficial), summer 15:00-17:30 and 23:00-07:00; winter 15:30-17:30 and 22:00-07:30. We could not read the order itself.

Airbnb: parties are banned

Airbnb banned parties in August 2020 and made it permanent policy on 28 June 2022.
It bans open-invite parties and disruptive gatherings, regardless of size.
You may not advertise your listing as party friendly.
Guest penalties range from account suspension to removal from the platform.
Airbnb screens bookings automatically and may reject risky ones. Neighbours can report a listing.

Airbnb: noise monitors and cameras

Since 30 April 2024, indoor cameras are not allowed, even if switched off.
Noise decibel monitors are allowed indoors if you disclose them in the listing.
Never in bedrooms, bathrooms or sleeping areas.
They measure sound level and duration but do not record audio. You need not say where they are.

Booking.com

«Parties or events» is one of the standard house rules. Guests accept the rules to book.
Set them in the extranet: Property > Policies > House rules.
Its help suggests reminding guests to keep the noise down.
For guest misconduct: police first, then Booking.com.
We have not confirmed the exact wording guests see.

Good practice

Put your town's quiet hours in the house rules and the welcome message.
State the maximum number of people and that visitors and parties are not allowed.
Give your phone number to neighbours or the building manager.
If you use a noise monitor, disclose it and send a message before going over.

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Frequently asked questions

Must I tell guests the building rules in Andalusia?

Yes. Art. 6.2.d of Decree 28/2016 requires informing them of the owners' association rules and local noise rules.

When does night start for noise purposes in Andalusia?

Decree 6/2012 sets the night period from 23:00 to 07:00. Limits and fines depend on your town's bylaw.

Can I use a noise monitor on Airbnb?

Yes, indoors and disclosed, but never in bedrooms, bathrooms or sleeping areas. Indoor cameras are banned.

Sources

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