Romania’s hospitality industry is entering a new regulatory phase following the publication in Official Gazette no. 559 of July 8, 2026, of MEDAT Order no. 948/2026, known as the new classification law. Signed by interim minister Irineu Darău following industry consultations, the normative act updates requirements for classification certificates, licenses, and patents, accelerating digitalization, imposing sustainability criteria, and evening the playing field between hotels and private accommodation spaces.
The order simplifies bureaucracy by directly verifying data at the Trade Register through the ONRC platform, eliminating the obligation to submit a confirmation certificate. In accommodation spaces, outdated technologies such as fax machines, answering machines, and printed maps are replaced with information screens and QR codes, while individuals offering short-term rentals are required to maintain a functional website or a social media page. At the same time, the new rule mandates the exclusive use of white bed linen and towels and introduces a consumer protection measure: no property or agency will be able to surrender its license without a self-declaration regarding the absence of paid and unfulfilled bookings.
To combat unfair competition, individuals providing short-term rental accommodation will be limited to a maximum of 7 rooms and 14 beds, a measure supported by the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR) that will drive the transition toward professional legal forms such as aparthotels. At the same time, obtaining tourism patents becomes easier for higher education graduates with at least 5 years of management experience. The legal framework also officially defines the concept of Tourist Resort, applicable to integrated tourism complexes developed on a land area of at least 10,000 sqm.
The new regulations also introduce requirements regarding accessibility and environmental performance, such as installing charging stations for electric vehicles, ecological management systems, and rooms adapted for people with disabilities in new units. From a financial perspective, consultants from Win Advisors and Win Hotels warn that classification analysis should be moved earlier into the concept and feasibility phase to avoid unplanned CAPEX increases or architectural changes, although existing operators such as Bacolux Hotels note that the rules will not generate major additional costs for already operational properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Order MEDAT no. 948/2026?
Order MEDAT no. 948/2026 is Romania’s new tourism classification law that updates standards for classification certificates, licenses, sustainability, digitalization, and short-term rentals.
What limits are imposed on private short-term rentals in Romania?
Individuals offering short-term rentals are restricted to a maximum of 7 rooms and 14 beds to combat unfair competition and encourage professional legal structures like aparthotels.
What new amenities and environmental rules apply to accommodation units?
New rules require white bed linens and towels, digital information via QR codes or screens, EV charging stations, ecological management systems, and accessible rooms in new developments.