Where you can and cannot have a short-term rental:
Permitted:
- Your principal residence, which is the home where you live
- Secondary homes or basements suites if the operator lives there full-time
Not permitted:
- In accessory buildings (like a garage or art studio) or in Rental 100 buildings
- Homes that pay the Empty Homes Tax (The tax applies to homes that aren't the owner’s principal residence, or that aren't rented long-term.)
Renew your licence
Ensure you renew your existing short-term business licence for 2020 and update all your online listings with your new licence number.
The 2020 licence fee is $99. A fee of $40 will be added to late renewals (this applies to all business licences).
To renew, you will need your account number listed on your renewal notice (distributed in the middle of November). If you're not sure of the number, call 3-1-1.
Handbook
All short-term rental operators in Vancouver must have a business licence and include their licence number in all online listings and advertising, or they may be subject to fines up to $1,000 per offence.
Contact us about business licences
Location and mailing address
Development and Building Services Centre
Ground floor
515 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8:30am to 4:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday
8:30am to 4:00pm
See when your queue number is called
Free 2-hour parking
West 10th Ave parking lot,
between Cambie and Yukon