The North Corfu Municipal Council has unanimously approved a comprehensive decision to establish a stringent framework for the seasonal operation of hotels and rental accommodations. This new regulation, passed on November 28, 2025, aims to ensure complete transparency, uniformity, and clear oversight of businesses declaring seasonal operation within the tourism sector of North Corfu.
Unanimous Decision for Enhanced Control
The discussion took place during the 17th regular mixed session of the Municipal Council in Acharavi, with 23 members present. The proposal was presented by Deputy Mayor for Finance and Administration, Mr. Ioannis Garnelis, and Mayor Mr. Georgios Macheimaris was also in attendance. The unanimous vote signals a strong political commitment from the municipal authority to implement clear rules for both businesses and the Municipality, ensuring that all entities claiming seasonal status genuinely meet the specified conditions.
Key Changes and New Required Documents
The decision fully adopts the recommendation of the Seasonality Control Committee and outlines an extensive package of 17 mandatory documents for submission. The process has been made significantly more rigorous and detailed, now requiring:
- A sworn statement detailing operational information and a commitment that facilities will not operate outside the declared period.
- A technical report from an engineer, including a detailed record of square footage and usage.
- An operating license or business commencement certificate.
- Previous year’s VAT declarations.
- Tax and municipal clearance certificates.
- Electricity bills demonstrating non-operation during off-season.
- Data from the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (XEE) and the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) where applicable.
- Door logbook, staff roster, and documents from the General Commercial Register (GEMI) and Chamber.
The committee explicitly states that any repair or maintenance work conducted within a business during the declared off-season will be considered operational time and therefore cannot be declared as a period of seasonal suspension.
Strict Deadlines to Eliminate Loopholes
For the first time, the Municipality has established exclusive and non-negotiable deadlines for submitting applications:
- For seasonality starting November 1: applications must be submitted between August 1 and September 30.
- For seasonality starting October 1: applications must be submitted between July 1 and August 31.
The decision explicitly states that “applications will not be accepted beyond these deadlines.” This regulation is expected to reduce late or incomplete applications and facilitate administrative control and planning.
Aiming for Order in the Sector
With this new decision, the North Corfu Municipality seeks to establish a clear and unified framework in a sector that has long been plagued by ambiguities and inconsistencies among businesses. Seasonality directly impacts:
- The calculation of municipal fees.
- The planned use of infrastructure.
- The supervision of accommodation operations.
- The accurate depiction of tourist activity.
The decision, bearing number 17-151/28.11.2025, is effective immediately.
