B.C. Airbnb Rules in 2025: What Hosts Need to Know
Last updated: May 2025
Short-term rentals have long been an opportunity to add some extra income to your property while still enjoying the benefits of home ownership. Whether you are looking to utilize a downtown apartment or a vacation home in the interior, the B.C. government has recently changed B.C. Airbnb rules. This article will help guide you through the short-term rental rules in B.C. and the best way to deal with the red tape.
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First, what’s considered a short-term rental in British Columbia?
A short-term rental in B.C. is considered an accommodation that is provided to a member of the public in a host’s property in exchange for money for less than 90 consecutive days.
Per the Government of B.C. Airbnb legislation, these properties are typically found within residential or resort areas in the province. The properties are generally advertised to the public via online platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com, as well as classified ads and Facebook Marketplace.
Starting an Airbnb in British Colombia
Starting an Airbnb in B.C. is not as easy as it is in other jurisdictions around the world. Here on the West Coast, the rules are stringent.
Not only will you have to prove that you are renting your principal residence, but depending on where you are starting your Airbnb, you will need to collect taxes, set up a business licence, and even share data with local officials.
What’s more, the provincial government has increased the maximum fines around short-term rentals, which means that you can face regional district fines of up to $50,000 and municipal tickets for up to $3,000 per infraction per day if you are found noncompliant.
Required documentation
When you start your Airbnb, you will need a few documents to help set up your account with the site and the government:
- Register as a host with the Province of British Columbia’s short-term rental registry. This registration will require one piece of government-issued photo ID, which can be a driver’s licence, service card, or even passport, along with the verification documents to prove that this property is your principal residence.
- Register with the Province of B.C. for a provincial sales tax (PST) number to collect and charge PST.
- Depending on your specific location, you may also need to register for a business licence, which will require much of the same documentation but at the local level.
B.C. Airbnb tax rules
Per Airbnb rules in B.C., property owners are responsible for:
- Collecting PST on all rental income, including any cleaning fees, guest fees, or other associated fees from their short-term rental property
- Collecting Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT), which ranges from 2-3%
- Collecting General Sales Tax (GST), which is 5% and is paid to the federal government
General Airbnb rules in B.C.
In contrast to some reporting on the internet, there is no Airbnb ban in B.C., but there are new rules that you need to follow to ensure your property is appropriately set up to operate.
First and foremost, with the latest B.C. short-term rental legislation, the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act has changed a few key things for prospective Airbnb hosts.
- First, you can only rent your principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. This means your secondary properties cannot be used for short-term rentals if you own multiple properties.
- Secondly, the province has closed the loophole around nonconforming use protections where homeowners were using their property for short-term rentals when it was against the bylaws of the local government. This means that if you were renting your property against city bylaw, the provincial rules no longer protect you, and your property will be operating illegally.
Additionally, the province has set up a new short-term rental registry and associated application fee. The fee will be put toward the short-term rental enforcement program that is currently being stood up. Short-term rentals that have not registered will have their listings taken down starting May 1, 2025, and all future bookings will be canceled starting June 1, 2025.
B.C. Airbnb rules by city
Although the overall B.C. short-term rental legislation covers the entire province, specific communities have opted to go further than the provincial rules and institute city or regional bylaws on short-term rentals.
Vancouver
In Vancouver, short-term rentals are governed by the general B.C. Airbnb rules and specific city bylaws, which can be viewed more in-depth here. These bylaws include restrictions on the number of licences and specific rules around how these properties are advertised on short-term rental sites.
Victoria Airbnb rules
In Victoria, besides having to follow provincial rules, there are additional Airbnb rules that also apply to the provincial capital. These rules include the rental having a principal resident requirement and the requirement for the individual in the home to have a business licence to advertise and rent out their property.
Whistler Airbnb rules
Much like Victoria, the City of Whistler also has specific requirements for short-term rentals within this bustling mountain community. If the property falls within the tourist-zone area (which is around Blackcomb, Whistler, and the Village), Whistler Airbnb rules apply, including the owner needing to obtain a business licence and collect PST and MRDT taxes on all rentals. Also, all short-term rentals must meet building requirements and operational rules outlined in the Tourist Accommodation Regulations Bylaw to be set up legally.
Tofino
Tofino is one of the hotspots for the summer, and a short-term rental in this surfing town has additional restrictions on short-term rentals. This includes a principal residence requirement, a maximum of six guests and three bedrooms per listing, and a requirement for the owner to have a business licence from the District of Tofino.
Cumberland
The quant community of Cumberland in the Comox Valley has rules similar to Tofino, with a maximum of three bedrooms and six guests per listing, a principal residence requirement, and a maximum of one listing on a single property.
Revelstoke
Much like Whistler, Revelstoke has a strict bylaw regime for short-term rentals within its jurisdiction and in and around Revelstoke Mountain Resort. This includes principal resident requirements and rules around secondary suits in certain city zones. There’s a maximum of six guests and three bedrooms per listing, and a business licence is required to operate the property as a short-term rental.
FAQs about B.C. Airbnb rules
What are the new rules for Airbnb in B.C.?
Under the new updated Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act , beginning May 1, 2024, short-term rentals will be limited to a host’s principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit. This is only in designated municipalities with a population of over 10,000 and some smaller adjacent communities. In addition, previous protections for legal nonconfirming use will no longer apply where updated local bylaws prohibit short-term rentals.
Do I need a licence for Airbnb in B.C.?
You may need a licence to legally operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, but it depends on the city where you operate. Provincially, you do not need a licence to rent your property as a short-term rental in British Columbia.
What are the fines for noncompliance?
Fines will depend on the city in which you are illegally operating. However, the province has recently increased the maximum fine, which is $3,000 per infraction per day or up to $50,000 for regional districts.
Is Airbnb banned in B.C.?
No, there is no B.C. Airbnb ban, but there are more stringent rules that you will need to follow at both the provincial and municipal levels to ensure your property is compliant.
What taxes do I need to collect for my Airbnb?
You must collect PST, GST, and Municipal and Regional District Taxes for any rental income, including additional guest and cleaning fees.
Can I set up multiple Airbnbs in B.C.?
No, under the new short-term rental legislation, you are limited to setting up a short-term rental only in your principal residence plus an accessory dwelling unit or secondary suite on that property. Setting up secondary properties as short-term rentals could lead to significant fines of up to $50,000.
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Don’t see the form to download our vacation rental agreement? Click here.