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

The rules in Vancouver at a glance

Rules checked on November 3, 2026 on vancouver.ca and gov.bc.ca. Always check the source before buying or posting a listing.

Renting short-term in Vancouver: the steps

The City requires a business licence for any rental of less than 90 consecutive days. You must live in the property as your principal residence, get strata or landlord approval before applying, and include the licence number in all listings. Operating without a licence can result in fines or prosecution; the City suspends licences (161 in 2026 as of September 3, according to its page).

The British Columbia rules

The province limits short-term rentals to the host’s principal residence, “plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property”, in municipalities of 10,000 people and over and smaller neighbouring communities. Each unit must be on the provincial registry: $100 a year for the principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit.

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.

What a professional checks before you buy to rent in Vancouver

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

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• City of Vancouver — Short-term rental business licence
• Government of British Columbia — Principal residence requirement