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

The rules in Ottawa at a glance

Rules checked on November 3, 2026 on ottawa.ca. Always check the source before buying or posting a listing.

Renting short-term in Ottawa: the steps

The City requires a host permit for the principal residence ($116 for two years) and a separate cottage rental permit to rent a cottage or home in the rural area ($116 for two years). Listings must show the permit number and the maximum number of guests on it, and can only go through platforms registered with the City. Hosts must also give guests their contact information and the rules on noise, parking, smoking and fire safety.

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 Ottawa

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 · Vancouver · Calgary, or see the rules by province in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• City of Ottawa — Requirements for a short-term rental host
• City of Ottawa — Rules for short-term rental hosts