The residential share (Wohnanteil), explained
What the minimum residential share is, which zones are affected and when a unit drops out.
“Residential share” (Wohnanteil) is the key term of the new ban. Understand it, and you know whether your own apartment is affected.
What is the minimum residential share?
For many zones, the building and zoning ordinance (BZO) sets the portion of floor area that must serve permanent housing. The aim is to preserve affordable housing in the city. In most residential zones this share exceeds 50%.
Which zones are affected?
Residential zone (W2–W5)
Pure residential areas with a high minimum housing share. The ban bites hardest here.
Core zone (K)
Old town and historic centres with mixed use and a housing obligation — review case by case.
Neighbourhood-conservation zone (QI–QIII)
Protects established neighbourhoods and their housing share. Short-term letting falls under the ban.
Centre zone (Z5–Z7)
Mixed use without a strict minimum housing share. Usually not affected.
Industrial / commercial zone
No residential use foreseen — the ban does not apply here.
When does a unit drop out of the residential share?
What matters is a cumulative condition. A unit only stops counting as housing when both points apply:
- It is regularly let on fixed terms of under one year, AND
- nobody with a registered main residence lives there.
If only one condition is met — for example because the tenant registers their main residence — it remains housing under the residential share. This is exactly where the compliant solution begins.
Is your address affected?
Check zone and ban in 30 seconds — or talk to us directly.