A short-term rental can be an entire home, or a room with that home, that is rented for less than 30 consecutive days at a time.

A short-term rental can only be operated from your principal residence – the home where you live, as an owner or tenant, and use for bills, identification, taxes, and insurance.

Short-term rentals are only permitted in secondary homes or basements suites if the operator lives there full time.

All short-term rental operators must have a valid business licence and include it in all online listings and advertisements.

Your strata bylaws or landlord must permit the use of short-term rentals in your home before you apply for a licence.

Non-compliance may result in fines of up to $1,000 per offence.

Apply for a short-term rental business licence

Be a responsible operator

Download our handbook  (300 KB)

What about the Empty Homes Tax?

Short-term rentals aren't allowed in homes that pay the tax.

The tax applies to homes that aren't the owner’s principal residence, or that aren't rented long-term. 

More on Empty Homes Tax

Why short-term rentals are allowed in Vancouver

Vancouver is facing a housing affordability crisis. We want residents to stay, live, and build a future in Vancouver. As part of the Housing Vancouver Strategy, our short-term rental regulations:

• Protect existing long-term rental housing and return more long-term rental housing to the market
• Allow residents to use their principal residence to earn additional income to offset their housing costs
• Provide safe and healthy accommodation options to support our tourism industry
• Helps us respond to any concerns with noise, garbage, parking, and safety
• Permit us to enforce against commercial and illegal operators who are using long-term rental homes as short-term rentals