| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Restricted — rules apply |
| Permit / License Required | Yes — two-tier: a City of Vancouver Short-Term Rental Business Licence AND a B.C. Provincial Short-Term Rental Registration number. Both numbers must |
| Tax Rate | Provincial accommodation levy 3% + Vancouver hotel tax 2%; federal GST 5% above CAD $30,000 revenue. |
| Night / Day Cap | No nightly cap when operating from principal residence; STR defined as stays under 90 consecutive days. |
| Minimum Stay | No stated minimum; short-term defined as under 90 consecutive days (changed from under 30 days in October 2024 to align with provincial law). |
| Permit Fee | City business licence ~CAD $1,108/year (prorated first year) plus provincial registration ~CAD $77/year (combined ~CAD $1,185). CAD $111 late penalty |
| Penalties | City non-compliance fines up to CAD $1,000 per offence; operating without a city licence ~CAD $1,000/day; operating without provincial registration ~C |
| Primary Residence Required | Yes. STRs are only permitted in the operator's principal residence (the home they live in most of the year). Investment/second properties do not quali |
| Occupancy Limit | Unknown (governed by building/safety standards rather than a stated guest cap). |
Short-term rentals in Vancouver, British Columbia are allowed but subject to significant restrictions under local regulations as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes — two-tier: a City of Vancouver Short-Term Rental Business Licence AND a B.C. Provincial Short-Term Rental Registration number. Both numbers must be displayed on all listings.. The associated permit fees are City business licence ~CAD $1,108/year (prorated first year) plus provincial registration ~CAD $77/y.
Short-term rental operators in Vancouver should be aware of these tax obligations: Provincial accommodation levy 3% + Vancouver hotel tax 2%; federal GST 5% above CAD $30,000 revenue.. Yes for taxes — B.C. provincial accommodation levy (3%) and Vancouver hotel/MRDT tax (2%) apply; federal GST (5%) applies if annual revenue exceeds CA.
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Vancouver include: Primary residence requirement: Yes. STRs are only permitted in the operator's principal residence (the home they live in most of the year). Investment/. Rental day cap: No nightly cap when operating from principal residence; STR defined as stays under 90 consecutive days.. Occupancy limit: Unknown (governed by building/safety standards rather than a stated guest cap).. Minimum stay: No stated minimum; short-term defined as under 90 consecutive days (changed from under 30 days in October 2024 to align .
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Vancouver: Principal-residence-only model; cannot rent both main house and a secondary suite. Strata corporation written approval required before applying (most multi-unit properties are stratified).. Density rules: No explicit density quota, but principal-residence rule effectively limits one STR per host. Strata bylaws may further restrict or prohibit STRs.. Insurance: Hosts must confirm insurance allows STR use and provides adequate coverage; review policies before l.
Hosts who fail to comply with Vancouver's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. City non-compliance fines up to CAD $1,000 per offence; operating without a city licence ~CAD $1,000/day; operating without provincial registration ~CAD $5,000/day under provincial enforcement. Rentin.
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Vancouver: Platforms are legally required to share monthly listing data with local governments and must remove/delist listings lacking a valid provincial registration number at the local government's request..
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Vancouver but subject to restrictions. Hosts must comply with local permit requirements and zoning rules. Must confirm legal dwelling unit, provide 24/7 guest contact, install interconnected smoke alarms (every floor and bedroom), CO detectors where gas appliances exist, fire extinguisher on each floor, p
Yes. Vancouver requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes — two-tier: a City of Vancouver Short-Term Rental Business Licence AND a B.C. Provincial Short-Term Rental Registration number. Both numbers must be displayed on all listings..
Short-term rental hosts in Vancouver are subject to the following tax obligations: Provincial accommodation levy 3% + Vancouver hotel tax 2%; federal GST 5% above CAD $30,000 revenue..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Vancouver may face enforcement. City non-compliance fines up to CAD $1,000 per offence; operating without a city licence ~CAD $1,000/day; operating without provincial registration ~CAD $5,000/day under provincial enforcement. Renting a non-principal residence triggers licence revoc.
As of April 2026, ~4,969 active listings with 3,248 city business licences issued for 2026 and 69 suspended. Enforcement is active and data-driven. By-law 4450 governs licensing.
LawfulStay tracks STR regulations across 1,026+ cities & countries on 6 continents, updated daily.
View in Full Database →