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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<\/a>. Together, these changes mean there are now two layers of compliance to understand: city bylaws and provincial legislation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The dividing line is 90 days. Rentals of 90 consecutive days or more are considered long-term rentals<\/a> and are exempt from provincial short-term rental<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is a short-term rental in Vancouver?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Definition of a short-term rental<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Examples of short-term rentals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Difference between short-term and long-term rentals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Are short-term rentals legal in Vancouver?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n