Short-term rental (Airbnb) rules in Canada: by province and city

The main rules, by place

Place	What you can rent	Requirement
Quebec (province)	Principal residence; anything else depends on municipal zoning	CITQ registration number, shown in the listing
Montreal	Principal residence, June 10 to September 10; not in Lachine, Saint-Laurent or Saint-Léonard. Year-round outside a principal residence: certificate of occupancy, in certain areas only	Annual municipal permit ($350 plus tax review fee), on top of CITQ
Quebec City	Principal residence, at most 90 nights a year; freeze on new commercial establishments in parts of Old Québec since April 2026	City certificate of authorization ($260 in 2026) before CITQ
British Columbia	Principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit, in municipalities of 10,000 and over and smaller neighbouring communities	Provincial registry: $100 a year (principal residence), $450 (secondary suite)
Vancouver	Principal residence; one licence per person; less than 90 consecutive days	Business licence of $1,108 a year (+ $77 the first time)
Toronto	Principal residence: up to 3 bedrooms with no limit, or the entire home 180 nights a year	$390 registration; number in the listing; $1,000 fine
Ottawa	Principal residence; a rural cottage or home with a separate permit	$116 host permit for two years; number in the listing
Calgary	Principal residence or not: the licence type depends on it; up to 180 consecutive days	Business licence; number in any advertising; $1,000 fine
Nova Scotia	Any accommodation of 28 days in a row or less	Provincial registry ($50 for a primary residence); fine up to $100,000 per year unregistered
Elsewhere in Ontario and Canada	Depends on the municipal bylaw	Check with the city

Rules checked on November 3, 2026 on official websites. The length that makes a stay a "short-term rental" varies: less than 28 days in Toronto, 28 days or less in Nova Scotia, 31 days or less in Quebec, less than 90 days in Vancouver, up to 180 days in Calgary. They change often, and so do municipal fees and fines: always check the source before buying or posting a listing.

Before buying to rent short-term

The numbers on a building bought "for Airbnb" rest entirely on the right to rent it. Check the zoning of the exact address, the condo declaration and bylaws (many prohibit short-term rentals) and your home insurance, which often excludes commercial activity. A lender may also refuse to count short-term rental income to qualify you.

On taxes, 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. And a home rented on Airbnb can lose all or part of the principal residence exemption when sold.

What a professional checks before you buy to rent

The rules say what a city generally allows. Before an offer, the question is narrower: can this unit be rented short-term, and does the project still work without that income?

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

Frequently asked questions

What are the short-term rental rules in Canada?

In Canada, short-term rentals (under 31 days, Airbnb-style) are regulated by the province and above all by the city, and the dominant rule is the same everywhere: you can rent out your principal residence, rarely a unit you do not live in. In Quebec, a CITQ registration number is mandatory and must appear in the listing; in Montreal, a principal residence can only be rented from June 10 to September 10, with an annual permit. In British Columbia, the principal-residence requirement applies in communities over 10,000 people, with a mandatory provincial registry. In Toronto, an entire principal residence can be rented for at most 180 nights a year, after registration. In Quebec City, a principal residence can be rented at most 90 nights a year; in Calgary, the City does not limit rentals to the principal residence but requires a licence. A non-compliant rental can also lose its federal tax deductions.

Can you rent a unit you don't live in on Airbnb?

In most big cities, no: Montreal, Toronto and B.C. communities over 10,000 people limit short-term rentals to the principal residence. Elsewhere it depends on municipal zoning — in Quebec, commercial tourist residences are only allowed in certain areas.

Do you need a registration number to rent on Airbnb in Quebec?

Yes. The CITQ registration number is mandatory and must be shown in the listing; platforms must remove listings without one. In Montreal, you also need a municipal permit, renewed every year.

Sources

Buying a plex or condo to rent?

A real estate broker who knows the area knows what zoning and the condo allow. Payotte names a single verified one per sector.

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Short-term rental rules in Canada: by province and in the big cities