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Try the quiz or look-up your situation.
New rules take effect September 1
All short-term rental operators in Vancouver must have a valid business licence and include that number in all online listings by August 31 to avoid fines up to $1,000.
Look-up your situation
You own a home with a self-contained basement suite (with its own kitchen and bathroom) and want to rent it short-term
No, you can't rent the basement suite short-term because it's not your principal residence.
Instead, you can:
- Rent the home long-term for periods of 30 days or more at a time, with a valid long-term rental business licence
- Allow your long-term tenant to rent the home short-term with a valid short-term rental business licence because it's their principal residence
You own and live in your home, and want to rent a spare bedroom or the whole home short-term when you're away
Yes, starting April 19, 2018, you can rent the bedroom or whole home short-term if:
- You have a valid short-term rental business licence
- Your strata bylaws allow short-term rentals, if your residence has a strata council
You rent and live in an apartment unit, and want to rent it short-term when you're away
Yes, starting April 19, 2018, you can rent the apartment unit short-term if:
- You have a valid short-term rental business licence
- Your landlord allows short-term rentals
- Your strata bylaws allow short-term rentals, if your residence has a strata council
You own a laneway house that you keep available for family and friends, and want to rent it short-term
No, you can't rent the laneway house short-term because it's not your principal residence.
Instead, you can rent the home long-term for periods of 30 days or more at a time, with a valid long-term rental business licence.
You own or rent your home, and want to rent a spare bedroom short-term
Yes, starting April 19, 2018, you can rent the bedroom short-term if:
- You have a valid short-term rental business licence
- Your landlord allows short-term rentals, if you rent
- Your strata bylaws allow short-term rentals, if your residence has a strata council
You own a second home that's often empty and want to rent it short-term
No, you can't rent the home short-term because it's not your principal residence.
Instead, you can rent the home long-term for periods of 30 days or more at a time, with a valid long-term rental business licence. Renting the home more than six months per year means you don't have to pay the Empty Homes Tax.
You own a second home that's already rented long-term and want to rent it short-term instead
No, you can't rent the home short-term because it's not your principal residence.
Instead, you can allow your long-term tenant to rent the home short-term with a valid short-term rental business licence because it's their principal residence.
