Short-term rentals in Calgary (Airbnb): the rules in 2026

The rules in Calgary at a glance

Rules checked on November 3, 2026 on calgary.ca (amendments in force since April 1, 2025). Licence fees are in the City’s annual fee schedule. Always check the source before buying or posting a listing.

Renting short-term in Calgary: the steps

Calgary regulates short-term rentals through a business licence. Since April 1, 2025, the licence type is issued based on whether the rental is operated from a primary or non-primary residence, and the definition of short-term rental covers stays of up to 180 consecutive days. The licence number must appear in any advertising.

Since January 1, 2024, the federal government denies deductions for the expenses of a short-term rental that does not comply with provincial or municipal rules.

What a professional checks before you buy to rent in Calgary

The rules above say what the City generally allows. The real question, before an offer, is narrower: can this unit be rented short-term, and does the project still work without that income? Four professionals answer it, each on their own ground.

• The real estate agent checks the zoning of the exact address and, in a condo, what the declaration and bylaws allow, before you make an offer.
• The mortgage broker checks whether the lender will finance a unit rented short-term and whether it will count that income to qualify you: a lender may refuse to count it.
• The real estate lawyer checks, before signing, any registered restrictions that could prohibit renting.
• The appraiser sets the value of the unit without taking for granted short-term rental income the rules could prohibit.

The rules in other cities

Compare with Montreal · Quebec City · Toronto · Ottawa · Vancouver, or see the rules by province in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• City of Calgary — Short-term rental rules and regulations