City of Vancouver STR Regulations 2026

To legally operate a short-term rental in Vancouver, you need:

✓The property must be your principal residence (where you live, pay bills, and receive mail)
✓A City of Vancouver business licence — STR Licence or BNB Licence depending on your situation
✓A BC provincial STR registration number displayed on all listings
✓Your property must meet all safety and compliance standards before you apply
✓Strata or landlord approval, if applicable

Short-Term Rentals in Vancouver

Definition: In Vancouver, a short-term rental is any rental for less than 90 consecutive days. Any rental of 90 days or more is a long-term rental and is not subject to STR licensing rules.

Short-term rentals remain legal in Vancouver, but the rules are strictly enforced and have become significantly tighter since 2024. Vancouver requires a city business licence AND a provincial registration number — both must be obtained before you list. Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo are legally required to display and verify your licence numbers, and to remove listings that don't comply.

What Changed in 2024–2025

Two overlapping sets of regulations now apply: the City of Vancouver's own bylaw, and the new BC provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (STRAA).

BC Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (May 1, 2024): The Province of BC enacted the STRAA, restricting STRs province-wide to principal residences only. This aligned provincial law with Vancouver's existing rules and added a layer of provincial enforcement on top of city bylaws.
Provincial STR Registry (2025): All STR hosts in BC must now register with the provincial STR registry and display a provincial registration number on every listing. Platforms must verify numbers and remove non-compliant listings within 5 days of notice.
Elimination of Grandfathered Listings: Properties that previously operated under legacy or "legal non-conforming" arrangements must now comply with current rules. No exceptions remain for older listings.
Stricter Platform Compliance: Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms face fines of up to $10,000/day for allowing non-compliant listings to remain active after notice from the City or Province.
90-Day Definition Alignment: Vancouver aligned its STR definition with the provincial standard — any rental under 90 consecutive days is an STR and requires a licence.

Two Licence Types in Vancouver

Vancouver allows two distinct licensing pathways. They are designed for different property types and operating models — choosing the wrong one can result in a licence being denied.

STR Licence

Short-Term Rental Licence — the most common choice for condo owners and whole-unit Airbnb hosts

✓ Entire unit rentals allowed
✓ Room rentals also allowed
✓ No breakfast required
✓ Host does not need to be on-site during rental
— Max stay: less than 90 consecutive days
— Principal residence required
— Application fee: $77 (non-refundable)
— Annual licence fee: $1,108 (non-refundable)
— One licence per host (one property only)

BNB Licence

Bed & Breakfast Licence — for traditional guesthouse operators renting rooms in their own home

✗ Entire unit rentals not permitted
✓ Up to 2 guest rooms
✓ Breakfast must be provided to guests
✓ Host must be on-site during every rental
— Max stay: less than 30 days per booking
— Principal residence required
— Annual licence fee: $71 (non-refundable)
— Zoning restrictions: RS/RT residential zones

Eligibility — Who Can Apply

Both licence types have the same core eligibility conditions. Make sure you meet all of these before applying.

✓ You Can Apply If...

✓ The property is your principal residence — where you live, pay bills, and receive mail
✓ You own the property, OR you are a long-term tenant with written landlord approval to sublet
✓ You are renting your entire home OR a room within your home
✓ Each rental stay is less than 90 consecutive days (STR) or less than 30 days (BNB)
✓ You live in a secondary suite on the property and want to rent that specific unit
✓ Your strata corporation's bylaws permit short-term rentals (if in a strata building)

✗ You Cannot Apply If...

✗ The property is not your principal residence — investment condos and second homes are not eligible
✗ You want to rent an accessory building such as a garage, standalone studio, or garden shed
✗ You own multiple properties and want to run STRs in more than one location simultaneously
✗ You live in the main house and want to also rent the secondary suite as an STR (you cannot do both)
✗ You want to rent both your principal residence and a laneway house as separate STRs
✗ Your strata corporation's bylaws prohibit short-term rentals

Secondary Suites & Laneway Houses: If your property has a secondary suite or laneway house, you may only rent the unit in which you personally reside. You cannot rent both the main dwelling and a secondary unit as STRs at the same time, and you cannot rent a detached laneway house if you live in the main home.

Safety & Compliance Standards

Before applying for a licence, your property must meet all of the following safety requirements. These apply to both the STR and BNB licence types.

🏠

Legal Dwelling Unit Confirm your home is a legal dwelling unit under the City of Vancouver's bylaws before applying. Unauthorized suites or unpermitted spaces cannot be licenced.

🔥

Interconnected Smoke Alarms Install interconnected smoke alarms on every floor and inside every bedroom. Alarms must be hardwired or battery-operated and meet BC Fire Code standards.

💨

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Install CO detectors on every floor if your home has any gas appliances (furnace, hot water heater, gas stove) or an attached garage.

🧯

Fire Extinguisher on Every Floor A working and accessible fire extinguisher is required on every floor of the rental unit. It must be in a visible, reachable location for guests.

🚪

Posted Fire Escape Plan Post a fire escape plan at all entrances and exits. The plan must show evacuation routes so guests can exit safely in an emergency.

🔔

Building Fire Alarm If your building has more than 3 dwelling units or more than 10 occupants, a building-wide fire alarm system is required.

🧱

Fire Separation (Attached Units) If your STR is attached to another dwelling unit, you need either an automated sprinkler system or a fire separation wall with at least a 45-minute fire-resistance rating.

📞

24/7 Host Contact Information You must provide guests with a working phone number or contact method available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the duration of their stay.

🛡️

Insurance Review Review your home insurance policy to confirm short-term rentals are permitted and that you are properly covered for liability and property damage. Standard home insurance policies often do not cover commercial STR activity.

Annual Maintenance Requirement

Hosts must inspect and test their smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors at least once per year. Keep records of all inspection and test dates — the city may request proof of compliance during licence renewal or an inspection.

Application Process & Fees

Both licences are applied for through the City of Vancouver's online business licence portal. The process typically takes several weeks from application to licence issuance.

1
Register with the BC Provincial STR Registry — Before applying for a city licence, register with the Province of BC's short-term rental registry to obtain your provincial registration number. This number must be included in your city licence application and displayed on all listings.
2
Confirm Your Safety Compliance — Ensure all required smoke alarms, CO detectors, fire extinguishers, and signage are installed and tested. Photograph or document your setup before applying — the city may inspect your property as part of the approval process.
3
Gather Your Documents — Typical documents include: proof of principal residence (utility bill, BC ID with your address), strata approval letter (if applicable), a basic floor plan or description of the rental space, and your provincial registration number.
4
Submit Your Application Online — Apply through the City of Vancouver's online business licences portal. Select the correct licence type — STR Licence if you want to rent the entire unit or room(s) without providing breakfast; BNB Licence if you will be present and serving breakfast.
5
Await Review & Possible Inspection — The city reviews applications and may schedule a property inspection (especially for new applicants). Processing time is typically several weeks. Do not list your property on any platform until your licence is issued.
6
Display Your Licence Numbers on All Listings — Once approved, post both your City of Vancouver business licence number and your BC provincial registration number on every listing, in the listing description, and anywhere else required by the platform.
7
Renew Annually — Both licence types must be renewed each year. Keep your safety equipment up-to-date and maintain your inspection records for renewal. The city may conduct spot inspections on renewal.

2026 Licence Fees

STR Business Licence — application fee $77 (non-refundable)

STR Business Licence — annual fee $1,108 (non-refundable)

BC Provincial STR Registration Required separately — check BC Housing

Fines for Non-Compliance

Operating an STR without a valid City of Vancouver business licence: up to $1,000 per day
Operating without a provincial registration number: up to $3,000 per day under the STRAA
Platforms failing to remove non-compliant listings after notice: up to $10,000 per day
Listing without displaying a valid licence number: removal from platforms and potential ticket under city bylaw

Which Licence Is Right for You?

Your property type and how you plan to operate will determine which licence — if any — applies to your situation.

🏢 STR Licence

Downtown Condo — Whole Unit

You own a condo as your principal residence and want to rent the entire unit on Airbnb while you travel. An STR Licence is required. You do not need to be on-site during guest stays.

🏠 STR or BNB

Detached House — Spare Rooms

You own a house, live in it, and want to rent spare rooms. If you'll serve breakfast and stay home: BNB Licence. If you don't want to serve breakfast or be present: STR Licence.

💼 Not Permitted

Investment Condo

You own a condo that is not your primary home. Under both city and provincial rules, STRs are restricted to principal residences. Investment property STRs are not permitted.

🏡 STR Licence

Rental Unit (Sublet)

You live in your rented unit (your principal residence) and want to list it on Airbnb. Since you live in the suite itself, with the owner's permission, you may apply for an STR licence for that specific unit.

🚫 Not Permitted

Main House + Suite Both Listed

You live in the main floor and want to STR both your home and the basement suite. You cannot list both — only the unit in which you reside may be licenced as an STR.

🅿️ Not Permitted

Converted Garage or Studio

You've converted a garage or standalone studio on your property. Accessory buildings (garages, garden suites not on title as a unit) cannot be licenced as STRs in Vancouver.

Summary: What You Need

Legal short-term rentals in the City of Vancouver require all of the following. Confirm each item before listing your property.

✓
Principal Residence — The property must be where you actually live, pay bills, and receive mail. Investment properties and non-primary homes are not eligible for either licence type.
✓
BC Provincial Registration Number — Register with the BC provincial STR registry before applying for your city licence. Your registration number must appear on all listings and be provided on your city licence application.
✓
City of Vancouver Business Licence — Choose the STR Licence (for entire unit or room rentals without breakfast obligation) or the BNB Licence (room rentals with breakfast and host present). STR: $77 application + $1,108/year; BNB: $71/year. Renew each year.
✓
Safety & Compliance Standards Met — Smoke alarms on every floor and bedroom, CO detectors if gas appliances, fire extinguisher on every floor, posted fire escape plan, 24/7 guest contact available, insurance reviewed.
✓
Strata / Landlord Approval — If you live in a strata building, your strata corporation's bylaws must permit short-term rentals. Tenants must have explicit written approval from their landlord. A city licence does not override strata rules.
✓
Licence Numbers Displayed on All Listings — Both your city business licence number and BC provincial registration number must appear on your listing page and in any advertisements.
✓
Annual Renewal & Maintenance Records — Renew your licence each year, test safety equipment annually, and keep records of all inspections. The city may request proof at renewal or conduct spot inspections.

Official Resources

For authoritative and up-to-date information, visit:

City of Vancouver — Short-Term Rentals: The City of Vancouver's short-term rental page (vancouver.ca/doing-business/short-term-rentals.aspx) covers current licence types, fee schedules, application forms, safety requirements, and zoning rules. This is the primary source for all city-level requirements.

City of Vancouver — Bed & Breakfast: For BNB-specific rules, the city's Bed & Breakfast page (vancouver.ca/home-property-development/bed-and-breakfast.aspx) provides detailed requirements for that licence pathway.

Province of BC — STR Registry & STRAA: The provincial short-term rental registry and the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act are administered by BC Housing (bchousing.org). All BC hosts must register provincially in addition to obtaining a city licence.

Regulations change regularly. Always verify current requirements directly with the City of Vancouver and the Province of BC before listing, and consider consulting a professional if you are uncertain.

City of Vancouver — STR Regulations