Vancouver short-term rental rules explained [2026]

Short-term rentals in Vancouver are legal, but they come with a strict set of rules that affect both property owners and the renters who book them. Over the past two years, the regulatory landscape has shifted considerably. B.C.’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act came into force in May 2024, and Vancouver extended its own definition of a short-term rental in October 8, 2024. Together, these changes mean there are now two layers of compliance to understand: city bylaws and provincial legislation. 

Whether you are a homeowner thinking about listing your place on Airbnb, a tenant wondering if you can sublet for a weekend, or a renter searching for a verified place to stay, this guide covers everything you need to know about Vancouver short-term rental rules in 2026. 

What is a short-term rental in Vancouver?

Definition of a short-term rental

In Vancouver, a short-term rental is any entire home or room within a home rented for fewer than 90 consecutive days. That definition changed in October 2024, when the city updated its bylaws to align with B.C.’s provincial legislation. Previously, the threshold was fewer than 30 days. 

The practical effect: rentals between 30 and 89 days now fall under the short-term rental framework and require a city business licence and a provincial registration number, not a long-term rental licence. 

Examples of short-term rentals

Common short-term rentals include entire homes or spare rooms listed on Airbnb or Vrbo, furnished suites rented to travellers for a few nights or a few weeks, and any accommodation arrangement in a host’s principal residence that falls below the 90-day mark. 

Difference between short-term and long-term rentals

The dividing line is 90 days. Rentals of 90 consecutive days or more are considered long-term rentals and are exempt from provincial short-term rental registration requirements entirely, whether the property is a principal residence or not. Long-term rentals are governed instead by B.C.’s Residential Tenancy Act and the protections it provides to tenants.  

Are short-term rentals legal in Vancouver?

Yes. Short-term rentals are legal in Vancouver, provided the host holds a valid city business licence, has a provincial registration number, and operates from their principal residence. As of April 2026, the City of Vancouver counted 4,969 active short-term rental listings, with 3,248 business licences issued for 2026 and 69 licences suspended within the year. 

The city does not tolerate unlicensed operators, and enforcement is active and data-driven. Legal operation requires following both city and provincial rules from the outset. 

Vancouver short-term rental rules [updated in 2025]

To legally operate a short-term rental in Vancouver, hosts must follow rules set under both city bylaws and B.C.’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. Here is what those rules require.    

 

Principal residence requirement

The most important rule is the principal residence requirement. A host may only operate a short-term rental in the home where they actually live most of the year: the address they use for mail, bills, identification, taxation, and insurance. 

Vacation properties, investment condos, and secondary suites (unless the host lives in the main unit on the same property) are not eligible for short-term rental use. The intent is to keep housing stock in the long-term rental market rather than converting it to tourist accommodation. 

Licensing requirement

To legally operate a short-term rental in Vancouver, hosts need a city business licence. The application fee is $77, and the annual licence fee is $1,108. Only one licence is permitted per person, and licences cannot be issued to companies, societies, or commercial operations. Licences must be renewed each year by December 31, and the number must appear on every listing. 

Listing requirements

Every short-term rental listing on any platform, including liv.rent, Airbnb and Vrbo, must display two numbers: the host’s provincial registration number (issued by the province of B.C.) and the city business licence number. Platforms are required by provincial law to remove listings that do not show valid numbers. 

Every short-term rental listing on any platform, including liv.rent, Airbnb and Vrbo, must display two numbers: the host’s provincial registration number (issued by the province of B.C.) and the city business licence number. Platforms are required by provincial law to remove listings that do not show valid numbers. 

What is not allowed

The following are prohibited under Vancouver’s short-term rental rules: 

• Renting a property that is not the operator’s principal residence 

• Operating without a valid city business licence and provincial registration number 

• Running a commercial short-term rental operation (e.g., renting multiple properties you do not live in) 

• Listing on platforms without displaying valid licence and registration numbers 

Violations can result in municipal fines and provincial administrative penalties.  

Who can operate a short-term rental in Vancouver?

Understanding who qualifies is the first step. For a full walkthrough of the application process, fees, and what to prepare, see our step-by-step guide to getting your Vancouver short-term rental licence.    

Homeowners

Homeowners can operate a short-term rental only in their principal residence. A homeowner cannot list a second property or investment condo on any short-term rental platform, even if the unit is vacant. If the homeowner lives in the main unit of a property that includes a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit, they may be eligible to rent that secondary unit short-term, subject to provincial rules. 

Tenants

Tenants can apply for a short-term rental licence, but only with written permission from their landlord. Without that written consent, the city will not issue a licence. Tenants should also check their lease carefully, as many standard rental agreements in B.C. prohibit subletting or operating short-term rentals without explicit approval. 

Strata owners

Strata owners face an additional layer of approval. Strata corporations in B.C. can restrict or prohibit short-term rentals entirely through their bylaws and can fine owners up to Strata corporations in B.C. can restrict or prohibit short-term rentals entirely through their bylaws and can fine owners up to $1,000 per contravention per day for violating those bylaws, under Strata Property Regulation 7.1. This means that even if a strata unit qualifies as the owner’s principal residence, the strata council can block short-term rental use. Confirm strata bylaw approval before applying for a city licence. 

Do you need a licence for short-term rentals?

Yes, two separate licences are required. First, a provincial registration number from the B.C. government under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. Second, a Vancouver city business licence. Both must be obtained before accepting any bookings, and both numbers must appear on every listing. 

Platforms are required to remove listings without valid provincial registration numbers and to cancel existing bookings for unregistered properties. Operating without both licences is not a grey area, it is a clear violation with real financial consequences. 

New British Columbia short-term rental laws

B.C.’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act came into force May 1, 2024, establishing a province-wide framework that applies to all municipalities with populations of 10,000 or more. The law introduced a provincial registration system, a principal residence requirement, mandatory platform data-sharing, and new enforcement powers.  

Early results are significant. The province reported in early 2025 that one in every 10 short-term rentals in B.C. had returned to the long-term rental market or been listed for sale since the legislation passed. 

Province-wide principal residence rule

Under the provincial law, short-term rentals are limited to the host’s usual place of residence, plus up to one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. Local governments can impose stricter rules but cannot relax this baseline.  

Enforcement changes

The province established a Compliance and Enforcement Unit (CEU) specifically to enforce the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. The CEU has the power to conduct investigations, issue compliance orders, and impose administrative monetary penalties. Hosts and platforms must provide records to the CEU on request, or face additional penalties for non-compliance.

Penalties for non-compliance

 

Penalties are layered across three levels: 

• Provincial (administrative): For hosts, administrative penalties range from $500 to $5,000 per day per infraction, and up to $10,000 per day for corporations (B.C. government news release, April 2024) 

• Regional district (prosecution): Maximum fines increased from $2,000 to $50,000 per infraction (B.C.’s short-term rental legislation, gov.bc.ca) 

• Municipal (Vancouver): Ticketing fines up to $3,000 per infraction per day

What happens if you break short-term rental rules?

Short-term rental violations in Vancouver carry penalties at three levels: 

• Provincial: Individual hosts face administrative penalties up to $5,000 per day per infraction; corporations up to $10,000 per day 

• Regional district: Prosecution fines up to $50,000 per infraction 

• Municipal: Vancouver ticketing fines up to $3,000 per infraction per day 

Platforms are legally required to share data with local governments and remove listings without a valid provincial registration number. Beyond fines, persistent violators risk licence suspension, court referral, and permanent exclusion from Vancouver’s short-term rental market. 

Can landlords still profit from short-term rentals?

Yes, though figures vary depending on how revenue is measured. According to AirROI’s 2026 dataset (April 2025 to March 2026), the average Vancouver short-term rental earned approximately $32,387 per year, at a nightly rate of $215 and an occupancy rate of 54.8%. This reflects the mean across all active listings, including lower-performing properties. 

Compliance has a real upfront cost: the $1,108 annual licence fee, provincial registration, and safety requirements all reduce net margins. Hosts who build these costs into their pricing from the start are better positioned for sustained profitability. 

Is an extended stay a better option than short-term renting?

For property owners who want to generate rental income without navigating Vancouver’s short-term rental framework, extended stays may be worth considering. Rentals with minimum stays of 90 consecutive days or more are exempt from B.C.’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, the provincial registration requirement, and the principal residence rule. This exemption applies to both principal and non-principal residences across the province. 

Extended stays do fall under the Residential Tenancy Act, which means tenants have full statutory protections, including rent increase caps (2.3% in 2026), notice requirements, and the right to dispute resolution through the Residential Tenancy Branch. Landlords considering this route should review B.C.’s tenancy rules carefully. 

For renters, extended stays can offer more stability and greater legal protections than a short-term booking. You can find mid-term and long-term Vancouver rentals on liv.rent. 

How liv.rent helps landlords stay compliant

Navigating short-term rental rules is one thing. Finding a verified, long-term tenant who gives you stable, predictable income without the licensing and enforcement risk is another. For landlords weighing their options in Vancouver’s rental market, liv.rent offers a platform built around trust from the start. 

Every landlord listing on liv.rent goes through ID verification before their listings go live. Tenants can submit digital applications, sign leases, and pay rent through a single platform, reducing the paperwork burden and creating a clear record of the tenancy. For landlords managing multiple units, liv.rent’s Growth and Business plans include tenant screening reports powered by Equifax, automated rent collection, and shared management tools. 

Whether you are stepping back from short-term rentals in favour of the long-term market, or managing a compliant short-term rental alongside a longer portfolio, you can browse and post Vancouver rental listings on liv.rent. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Are short-term rentals legal in Vancouver?

Yes. Short-term rentals are legal in Vancouver if operated from the host’s principal residence, with a valid city business licence and a provincial registration number from the B.C. government. 

What is the penalty for illegal short-term rentals?

Municipal ticketing fines in Vancouver can reach $3,000 per infraction per day. Provincial administrative penalties under B.C.’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act can reach $5,000 per day per infraction for individuals and $10,000 per day for corporations. Regional district prosecution fines can reach up to $50,000 per infraction. Persistent violators may also face court proceedings and licence suspension. 

Is long-term renting safer than Airbnb?

For landlords, long-term renting carries a lower compliance burden: no short-term rental licence, no provincial registration, and no risk of platform delisting. It also provides steadier income and a governed tenancy relationship under the Residential Tenancy Act. For renters, a long-term tenancy comes with stronger legal protections, including security of tenure, rent increase caps, and formal dispute resolution. Airbnb and short-term stays suit travellers or people needing flexibility, but they do not carry the same tenant protections. 

How do I know if I am booking a registered short-term rental?

Every legal short-term rental listing in B.C. must display a valid provincial registration number and a city business licence number. If you are booking in Vancouver and neither number appears on the listing, the rental may not be compliant. 

What is the difference between an Airbnb and a short-term rental?

Airbnb is a platform where hosts list their properties for short-term bookings. A short-term rental is the accommodation itself: any home or room rented for fewer than 90 consecutive days. An Airbnb listing is one type of short-term rental, but short-term rentals can also be booked through Vrbo, direct listings, or other platforms. 

What is the 90-day rule for short-term rentals?

In B.C., the 90-day rule is the threshold that separates short-term rentals from long-term tenancies. Any rental of fewer than 90 consecutive days requires a provincial registration number under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. Rentals of 90 days or more are exempt from provincial short-term rental rules and are instead covered by the Residential Tenancy Act.