Get a long-term rental business licence

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  Properties you can rent

  You can rent:

  • Single detached houses
  • Laneway houses
  • Secondary suites
  • Duplexes
  • Apartment houses
  • Residential/commercial buildings
  • Multiple conversion dwellings
  • Rooming houses
    • If you have 1 or 2 tenants living with you in your house, such as exchange students, you don't need a business licence
    • If you have 3 or more tenants in your house, you need a general business licence
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  Definition of each property type

  Single detached house

  • Main building on a property with one dwelling unit

  Laneway house

  • Separate dwelling unit in the rear yard of a property with an existing single detached house

  Secondary suite

  • Separate dwelling unit within a building that has a one-family dwelling, only smaller

  Duplex

  • Building with two dwelling units

  Apartment house

  • Building, possibly a strata, with three or more dwelling units

  Residential/commercial building

  • Building with commercial space on the main floor and dwelling units on the second floor

  Multiple conversion dwelling

  • Building converted to have a combination of two or more sleeping units, housekeeping units, or dwelling units

  Rooming house

  • Building with 3 or more resident tenants, located in a commercial zone that requires zoning approval

  Dwelling unit

  • Separate unit equipped to sleep, sit, and cook, with its own bathroom

  Housekeeping unit

  • Separate unit equipped to sleep, sit, and cook, with a shared bathroom

  Sleeping unit

  • Separate unit equipped to sleep and sit, with a shared bathroom

Steps to getting a long-term rental business licence

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  Step 1: Review what may be required for buildings built before 1956

  ​Because our records may not include the number of dwelling units in your building:

  • We need to inspect the building to confirm the number of dwelling units
  • You need to provide a floor plan
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  Step 2: Gather required documents

  Gather the following documents, based on who applies and your business structure.

  As a business owner, you need:

  • Copy of your current, government-issued photo ID

  As a representative applying for the licence, you need:

  • Copy of the business owner's current, government-issued photo ID
  • Copy of your own current, government-issued photo ID
  • Letter of authorization from the business owner PDF file  (90 KB)

  As a limited or incorporated business, you need:​

  • Copy of the business owner's current, government-issued photo ID
  • Provincial or extra-provincial certificate of incorporation issued by the BC Corporate Registry (A federal certificate of incorporation issued by Industry Canada won't be accepted)
  • Notice of Articles showing your company's list of directors
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  Step 3: Submit application and get licence

  Two options to apply for a long-term rental business licence

  Option 1: Apply online

  Apply online to track your application status and receive updates.

  To apply online, you’ll need to:

  • Pay a non-refundable application fee with a credit card
  • Provide your photo ID
  • Provide required documents

  Apply for long-term rental business licence

  When we have processed your request, we will contact you with questions or next steps.

  Note Processing times for licences vary depending on the type of business and the time of year.

  Option 2: Apply by mail 

  1. Complete the Rental Property Application Form PDF file  (74 KB).
  2. Gather the required documents listed in the application form.
  3. Mail the completed application form to the Licence Office. 

  Important note Cheques should be made payable to the City of Vancouver. We don't accept credit card cheques.

  Review rental property fees PDF file (852 KB)

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  Step 4: Display your licence

  You must make sure the rental licence is displayed and easily accessible for tenants. 

  If you have a:

  • Single unit, display the licence in the unit
  • Multi-unit complex, post in a location that is accessible to all tenants (For example in a communal area such as the lobby, building entrance, or mailroom.) 
     

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