BC Short-Term Rental 2025
Short-Term Rent Vancouver | BC Short-Term Rental Law | BC Short-Term Rental
Housing prices in British Columbia have risen sharply in recent years, making it harder for many residents to find affordable places to live. In response, the provincial government introduced new rules to the BC Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act to increase the supply of long-term housing. These new rules aim to bring back units that were being used as short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. By returning more homes to the rental market, the hope is that housing availability will improve and prices may begin to stabilize.
However, this doesn’t mean short-term rentals are banned altogether. There are still situations where they are allowed.
table of contents
Source: Government of British Columbia (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry/host-registration)
Understanding the BC Short Term Law: What You Need to Know
British Columbia is in the midst of a serious housing shortage, and short-term rentals, especially entire homes listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, have been identified as one of the factors limiting the availability of long-term rental housing. To tackle this, the provincial government introduced new legislation designed to open up more housing options for residents while still allowing some flexibility for short-term accommodations.
The BC short-term rental rules are focused on three main goals:
- Making more homes available for people who live and work in BC.
- Giving local governments better tools to enforce rental laws.
- Creating a consistent provincial framework for short-term rental activity.
One of the most significant changes under BC’s new short-term rental rules is the principal residence requirement. This means you can only list the place you live in for most of the year, plus one secondary suite or accessory unit on the same property. According to the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, any rental that lasts less than 90 consecutive days is considered short-term. It’s important to note that this rule doesn’t apply uniformly across the province, so you’ll want to check with your local government to see what’s in effect in your area.
In regions where a business license is required to operate a short-term rental, that license number must now be clearly displayed in your listing. If it’s missing, platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are obligated to remove the listing when requested by local officials.
To support better enforcement, short-term rental platforms are also required to share monthly data with local governments about active listings. This information won’t be made public, but it gives municipalities the tools they need to monitor and manage short-term rentals more effectively.
In regions where a business license is required to operate a short-term rental, that license number must now be clearly displayed in your listing. If it’s missing, platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are obligated to remove the listing when requested by local officials.
To support better enforcement, short-term rental platforms are also required to share monthly data with local governments about active listings. This information won’t be made public, but it gives municipalities the tools they need to monitor and manage short-term rentals more effectively.
How to Register?
Source: Government of British Columbia (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry/host-registration)
If you rent out a secondary property, a basement suite, your entire home while you’re away, or just a room in your house for less than 90 consecutive days at, you’re required to register. Starting May 1, 2025, all BC short-term rental hosts must be listed in the provincial registry to operate legally. This includes property hosts, co-hosts, and property managers. Each rental unit must be registered separately. To complete the process, you’ll need to verify your identity, create a BC Registries account, upload the required documents, and pay a registration fee. Once your registration is approved, you must display your provincial registration number, the rental address, and your local business licence number (if required) on your listing. Failing to do so could result in removal from platforms like Airbnb or VRBO.
Click on the link below to register:
Who Can Submit the Registration Application?
The person registering a short-term rental must be directly involved in its operation.
This can be:
This can be:
- The property host: someone who has legal possession of the home and is responsible for offering it as a short-term rental. This is typically the owner or tenant who arranges bookings and oversees the rental activity.
- The property manager: a person who handles the day-to-day operations on behalf of the host. This might include managing bookings, guest communication, or maintaining the property. Even if there is no formal property management contract in place, the manager can still register the unit as long as they are actively responsible for it.
In both cases, the individual registering must ensure that all the required information is accurate and complete. They will be held accountable for following the new provincial rules and maintaining a valid registration for each rental unit they manage.
What happens if you don't register?
Starting May 1, 2025, all BC short-term rental listings must include a valid registration number. If you’re required to register and fail to do so, there will be consequences.
Booking platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are legally required to confirm that every listing on their site includes a valid number. If your listing is not registered, platforms must take action in two steps:
- From May 1 to 31, 2025, platforms must stop advertising any short-term rentals that do not have a valid registration number and prevent any new bookings
- Beginning June 1, 2025, and going forward, platforms must stop advertising any short-term rentals that do not have a valid registration number, prevent any new bookings, and cancel any existing bookings
On top of this, property hosts who operate without registering could face fines or other penalties under provincial enforcement rules.
What fees should I pay?
Short-term rental hosts are required to pay an annual registration fee, which varies depending on whether they live on the property. If the host resides in the short-term rental unit, the fee is $100 per year. However, if the host does not live on-site, the fee is significantly higher at $450 annually. Below are some examples retrieved from the BC government website to help illustrate how these fees apply in different situations.
- Basement suite that I short-term rental, where I live on the main floor: This is a separate residence from your home and should be registered using the $450 annual fee.
- Accessory dwelling unit on my property, where I live in another residence on the property: This is a separate residence from your home and should be registered using the $450 annual fee.
- A vacation home/cabin where I do not live full-time: This is permissible only where the principal residence requirement does not apply. This is a residence and should be registered using the $450 annual fee.
- A condo you live in full-time, but rent out while you're abroad during your one-month vacation. This is your primary residence and should be registered using the $100 annual fee.
Beyond Property Valuation
WesTech’s Key Strengths:
Experienced company established in the local market for over 30 years
Brick and mortar local Vancouver Office where appraisers collaborate
Dedicated client care team offering excellent customer service and professional businesslike interactions whether by phone or email
100% of our appraisers are designated
Boutique firm focussed only in our local market serving Whistler to Chilliwack
Management still actively completing appraisals and are in tune with the market
WesTech Appraisal is your trusted Lower mainland appraiser of choice, offering you the best experience and the highest quality service. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your appraisal needs.
Share:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
WhatsApp
More Articles:
