Law No. 83/2026, approved on July 23 and promulgated on July 29, 2026, amends Law No. 93/2015 “For tourism.” The new tourism law has gone into effect immediately, so its obligations apply right now, in the middle of the season.
The changes affect three groups of businesses. First, developers undertaking construction work in tourist areas. Second, any accommodation facility, from hotels to tourist apartments. Third, beach establishments, which are subject to a new obligation with a specific fine.
In this article you'll find the five key changes, the corresponding fines, and the steps you should check this week.
Read also: Beach Station 2026. Certification as an Accommodation Structure.
Suspension of work during the tourist season
The biggest change is new article 30/a. The Council of Ministers may order the suspension of construction work in tourist areas during the season to ensure its smooth operation. The same rule applies to other activities related to construction when they affect the tourist season.
Suspension is not automatic. It requires a specific decision by the… Council of Ministers, which must specify four things: the specific zones for each municipality, the types of work that are suspended, the start and end dates, and the method of implementation. The suspension may be full for the entire period or only during certain hours.
Failure to comply with the suspension is punishable by a fine of 2,000,000 lek. Therefore, if you have active construction work on the coast or in other tourist areas, follow the decisions of the Council of Ministers for your municipality.
A practical example
The good news is that the suspension period doesn't count against you. The law explicitly states that the suspension period is counted toward the total duration of the works. For permits granted before the law's effective date, municipalities and other authorities are required to approve an extension of the deadline at the developer's request.
Example: A developer obtained a building permit in March 2026, with a 24-month work period, i.e., until March 2028. The Council of Ministers suspends work in his area from June 1 to September 15, a total of 3.5 months. The developer submits a request to the municipality and the completion deadline is extended by the same period, to the end of June 2028. Pay attention to the procedure, because the extension is approved only upon the applicant's request; it does not occur automatically.
Preliminary categorization certificate prior to building permit
This change affects anyone planning to build a new accommodation facility. Every development entity must obtain a preliminary categorization certificate before a building permit is approved.
Until now, classification came after construction, when the structure began operations. Under the new rule, the target category—for example, a four-star hotel—must be verified at the project stage. In other words, the structure's standard is set before the foundation is laid, not after it has been built.
The specific criteria will be determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers. Likewise, the categories of accommodation structures are now defined by a Government Decree, rather than directly in the law. This means that the list of categories can be updated more quickly in the future.
Electronic registration of clients becomes a legal requirement.
Every accommodation structure It is now mandatory to carry out electronic registration of clients. The required data are the number of visitors, nights stayed, nationality, residence, gender, and age.
The paper register is no longer sufficient. The obligation applies to every establishment conducting tourism activities, including inns, villas, and tourist apartments, not just large hotels. The legal purpose is to administer tourism activities, compile official statistics, and fulfill other legal obligations.
The processing and storage of this data must be carried out in accordance with personal data protection legislation. Therefore, the system you use must store the data securely and not expose it to third parties.
Free access to the shore for beach stations.
Beach stations assume a new clear obligation. The entity must guarantee the public's free and uninterrupted access to the seashore, along the coastline and through public beach areas.
The law specifies by name what is prohibited. No fence, wall, barrier, or other physical obstruction, permanent or temporary, that restricts this access and movement. Violation is punishable by a fine of 200,000 lek.
If you operate a beachfront station, the inspection is straightforward and done on the same day. Verify whether any physical element of your station, even a temporary one, is blocking public access to the shore or between public spaces. Removing a fence costs far less than a fine and a mid-season conflict with inspectors.
Read also: New Rules for the Use of Public Spaces.
New rules for waste in tourist areas
The old rule simply required a dedicated space within the structure for waste collection. That rule no longer applies in that form.
The new regulation has two steps. The accommodating establishment, as well as any entity that provides food or drink on its premises or independently, collects the waste within its own facilities. Then it deposits it only at the site specifically designated by the municipality for this purpose, in or near the tourist area.
The location is designated so that tourists do not have direct contact with the collection point, but without unduly burdening businesses. Each municipality adopts its own enforcement rules, so be on the lookout for notices from the municipality where you operate.
Why it Matters
The law took effect immediately, at the height of the season, and two of the obligations carry specific fines: 2,000,000 lekë for construction work and 200,000 lekë for beach barriers. Inspections during the tourist season are already a well-established practice for the institutions. For a beach station, verifying access to the shore takes one day and costs little, while the fine is equivalent to several months' rent for the space. The same logic applies to the electronic registration of customers, which is set up once and then runs on its own.
Frequently asked questions
I have construction work in a coastal area. Is it automatically prohibited from now on?
No. A suspension requires a specific decision by the Council of Ministers, which designates the areas for each municipality, the types of work, and the period. Until such a decision is issued for your area, the work continues under the permit you have.
My hotel registers guests in a paper register. Is that enough?
No. The law explicitly requires electronic registration, including data on nights stayed, citizenship, residence, gender, and age. Therefore, you must switch to an electronic system and ensure that it complies with personal data protection rules.
My beachfront property has a temporary fence on the side facing the public beach. What should I do?
Must be removed. The prohibition covers any physical barrier, permanent or temporary, that restricts public access to the shoreline or between public spaces. The fine for violation is 200,000 lek.
I'm planning to build an accommodation structure. What changes for the permit?
Before obtaining a building permit, you need a preliminary categorization certificate. The detailed criteria are expected to be issued by a decision of the Council of Ministers, so for projects in the preparatory phase it's worth planning this step now.
Read also: Beach Station Contracts Deadline Extended Until June 2026.