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Vancouver Enhances Short-Term Rental Rules to Align with Provincial Legislation

September 25 2024 –

Following a public hearing last night, Vancouver City Council approved updates to the City’s short-term rental policy, further aligning it with the Province’s recently enacted Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act External: .

As part of the updates, the definition of a short-term rental will be changed from less than 30 days to less than 90 days. Long-term rental licence holders who are currently renting their property for periods between 30 to 90 days will need to either apply for a short-term rental licence, provided they meet all requirements, or extend their rental terms to more than 90 days and continue to operate using their long-term rental licence. These updates are expected to be enacted on October 8. 
 
To strengthen enforcement, the City will also be requesting that the Province amend the Vancouver Charter to allow municipal tickets to be served by registered or electronic mail. 

Operating a Short-Term Rental in Vancouver

In 2018, Vancouver adopted short-term rental regulations aimed at protecting Vancouver’s long-term housing stock and supporting the health and safety of operators and renters. 

The City’s short-term rental regulations largely align with, and in some instances are more restrictive than the Province’s. To operate a short-term rental such as an Airbnb or Vrbo in Vancouver, the property must be:

  • An entire home or room within a home that is rented for less than 90 days. 
  • A principal residence – vacant units, including secondary units or laneway homes cannot be rented out as a short-term rental.
  • Licensed to the person who resides in the property. 

In early 2025, all short-term rental operators will be required to enroll in the provincial registry , which will enhance data sharing and compliance monitoring.

Simplified Long-Term Rental Licensing

To support compliance, the City has made the process to apply and obtain a long-term rental licence easier and faster.
 
As of September 12, 2024, residents can apply and obtain a long-term rental licence completely online. This new digital process replaces the need for physical application forms, enhances customer communication and allows applicants to easily check on their application status.

For more information about the City’s short-term business licence, please visit: https://vancouver.ca/doing-business/short-term-rentals.aspx