What the Chiapas tourism law says about vacation rentals after the June 2026 reform
If you manage vacation rentals in Chiapas, it's worth knowing that the state tourism law, as amended on June 3, 2026, has no article on vacation rentals or on booking platforms. What it does ask of every tourism service provider is the federal tourism registry, and the state lodging tax is 2%, or 5% for motels. Upbridge's AI operations assistant, Cleo, works over WhatsApp with vacation rental operators and cleaning companies and organizes the cleanings and the inventory for each place.
The rules here
We read the law as it currently stands on the state Congress's site on September 25, 2026, and the first three rows come from that text.
| Topic | What it says | Status | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A law for vacation rentals | We found no chapter on vacation rentals or platforms in the tourism law. The June 3, 2026 amendment, Decree 254 in Periódico Oficial no. 109, reshaped the state's tourism advisory council and added an official destination brand. | No specific law | June 3, 2026 | Chiapas Congress |
| National tourism registry (RNT) | The law defines a tourism service provider as anyone offering tourism services “permanently or occasionally” (en forma permanente o eventual), and requires them to get the Registro Nacional de Turismo and display it. It doesn't say whether a rental house counts. | In force | December 31, 2021 | Chiapas Congress |
| Minors and first aid | A May 2025 amendment asks providers for safety protocols and staff training to prevent crimes against children and teenagers, and for first-aid training for their workers. | In force | May 14, 2025 | Chiapas Congress |
| Lodging tax (ISH) | It's 2% for lodging in general and 5% for motels, according to El Contribuyente's state-by-state table, which lists no separate rate for platforms. | In force | 2025 | El Contribuyente |
The SAT's withholding on Airbnb and Booking income doesn't change from state to state, so it lives on our page for the whole country.
This is not legal or tax advice, and Upbridge does not file anything for you: no registrations and no tax returns.
How it works on the ground
Over Easter week 2026 the state tourism office ran information booths at more than 50 destinations, and Alerta Chiapas reports that Palenque, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the Sumidero Canyon, Agua Azul and Puerto Arista led the state's offer. They're very different places, so if you have houses in more than one, each needs its own arrival instructions.
The 2025 amendment talks about first-aid training for a provider's workers. If your cleaning crew is also the team that meets guests, it makes sense for every house to have a full first-aid kit and for someone to check it at each checkout.
Where Upbridge fits
For houses that are hours apart, we build a guest guide for each property, with directions, how to get in and the wifi, and the guest opens it on their phone in English or Spanish.
For the first-aid kit and everything else that gets checked at checkout, there are photo checklists the cleaner follows on their phone, with required items and a timestamped report at the end.
If you rent out or clean houses anywhere in Chiapas, Upbridge can help your crew and your guests work from the same information, without everything depending on you answering the phone.
If you run a cleaning company in Chiapas
When your clients' houses are in towns far apart, the hard part is knowing early which checkout is coming and where. The account for cleaning companies shows every client's checkouts on one calendar, from each owner's iCal or PMS, and we don't take a cut of any job.
Cities and areas
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Its page covers the ride from Tuxtla airport, the mountain climate and the dates when hotels fill up.
Palenque
AirROI counted 208 active Airbnb listings as of September 2026, and eight in ten take a single night. Its page covers the trains, the visitor center at the ruins and the road to Agua Azul.
Other states
Questions about running rentals in Chiapas
Does Chiapas's Decree 254 regulate Airbnb?
In the current text of the tourism law, which we read on September 25, 2026, Decree 254 of June 3, 2026 deals with the tourism advisory council and the destination brand, and we found no article on digital platforms or vacation rentals.
What's the lodging tax in Chiapas?
El Contribuyente's table puts it at 2% for lodging in general and 5% for motels.
Which registry does the Chiapas tourism law ask for?
It asks tourism service providers, whether permanent or occasional, for the federal Registro Nacional de Turismo, displayed where people can see it. The law has been in force since December 31, 2021.
Sources
Checked on September 25, 2026
- Congreso del Estado de Chiapas, “Ley de Turismo para el Estado de Chiapas”, current text with the latest amendment from Periódico Oficial no. 109, June 3, 2026.
- El Contribuyente, “Impuesto Sobre Hospedaje 2026: ISH por estado y obligaciones”, April 21, 2025.
- Alerta Chiapas, “Semana Santa dejó 30,740 mdp, Chiapas en el flujo: Sectur”, April 27, 2026.