Vancouver moves forward on short-term rental rules
If you want to provide a short-term rental in the City of Vancouver, you'll be required to comply with new rules on April 18, 2018.
Last November, 2017, Vancouver council approved new regulations for short-term rentals of less than 30 days, imposing multiple requirements on owners and tenants marketing short-term rentals on sites such as Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway.
On April 18, 2018, city council will formally enact these new short-term regulations.
Once passed, owners or renters will be required to apply for a new short-term rental business licence online. The license fee is $49, along with a one-time $54 administrative fee.
- Short-term rentals are allowed in principal residences only, where the owner or tenant typically lives and receives mail. Short-term rentals in commercial or secondary/investment properties are not allowed.
- Both owners and tenants can short-term rent their principal residence. Permission will be needed from both the strata and landlord, if applicable. Strata bylaws cannot prohibit short-term rentals.
- Bed and breakfast operators will continue to be licensed under their existing licensing requirements. Short-term rentals aren’t permitted in a principal residence already offering bed and breakfast accommodation.
- Anyone operating a short-term rental will need to comply with being a ‘good neighbour’ and meet certain requirements at the time of licence application. This requirement checklist outlines what is necessary to offer a short-term rental space, such as noise, parking and fire safety regulations so that potential operators can be prepared should any changes be necessary.
- Home owners with a licensed short-term rental will need to post a fire safety plan by all entrances and exits and have smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors.
| Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|
It's your principal residence, where you live most the year and the residential address you use for bills, identification, taxes and insurance. |
It's not your principal residence - you don't live there most of the year. |
It's a legal dwelling unit - a home with an address that complies with all applicable regulations, including building code and fire safety. |
It's an illegal dwelling unit - it doesn't comply with applicable regulations, including building code and fire safety. |
| If you're in a strata, bylaws support short-term rentals in your building. | If you live in a strata, your strata bylaws don't support short-term rentals in your building. |
If you're renting, your landlord allows you to sublet our home as a short-term rental. |
If you're a renter, your landlord doesn't allow you to sublet your home as a short-term rental. |
| You have a short-term rental business licence. |
Secondary suites, laneway homes, and other secondary residences
Short-term rentals will be permitted in a principal residence which include a secondary suite, laneway house, or lock-off unit − provided it’s a principal residence.
Short-term rentals won’t be permitted in non-principal residences, including secondary suites and laneway homes. However, if the rental vacancy rate climbs to four per cent, the city will review this ban.
Secondary homes rented short-term by investors will remain illegal.