Dortmund

For individuals hosting homes in Dortmund, this article provides targeted information on applicable local regulations. As emphasized in the OH-Stay.com article "Hosting in Germany," it is the responsibility of each host to independently verify and comply with all relevant obligations. This document serves only as an introductory reference and is not exhaustive, nor does it replace professional legal or tax advice. Hosts are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with current laws and procedures. In cases of uncertainty or complexity, contacting the City of Dortmund directly or consulting a local professional (such as a lawyer or tax advisor) is recommended.

Regulations for Rentals

Dortmund introduced short-term rental regulations on April 1, 2022, under the Housing Protection Statute Dortmund (Satzung zum Schutz und Erhalt von Wohnraum in Dortmund) and the NRW state-wide Housing Strengthening Act. These rules aim to protect and preserve residential space.

Registration Obligations

Since July 1, 2022, tenants and owners who rent out residential space on a short-term basis must display a registration number (Wohnraum-Identitätsnummer) online, regardless of the number of days rented per year. The registration number can be obtained via the NRW Construction Portal online service.

Notification Obligations

Hosts must report each occupancy no later than the 10th day after the rental begins. Notifications are submitted through the same online service used to obtain the registration number. Commercial listings are not required to maintain an occupancy calendar.

Obligations to Display Company Details

Instead of a registration number, hosts may publish company details (imprint) if they rent out:

Non-residential space
Residential space long term (minimum of three months)
Residential space short-term, if they are not the tenant or owner

This option generally applies to professional operators such as management companies, B&Bs, serviced apartments, and hotels.

Entering Your Registration Number or Imprint on OH-Stay.com

To comply with these requirements, follow these steps in your OH-Stay.com host account:

Log into your OH-Stay.com account.
Go to “Manage Listings” and select the listing that requires a registration number.
Navigate to “Policies and Rules → Laws and Regulations” and enter your registration number under “Regulations.”
Repeat this process for each additional listing.

Tourist Tax

The City of Dortmund levies a Tourist Tax (Beherbergungsabgabe) of 7.5% of the listing price, excluding cleaning fees. This tax applies to all short-term stays booked in Dortmund.

OH-Stay.com automatically collects this tax from guests at the time of booking and remits it to the City on behalf of hosts. The tax is shown as a separate line item on the invoice and added to the total booking amount. For more details, hosts and guests can consult the Dortmund service portal or contact the City directly.