Local Airbnb rules2026 28 sources cited

Is Airbnb Legal in Burnaby? 2026 Rules, Permits & Taxes

Yes, for owners only: Burnaby allows short-term rentals in the owner's principal residence, up to 90 nights a year (28 with the whole home rented), with a city business licence and a provincial registration.^{1,2,3,11,12,17}

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou, Founder @ AirROI Rules checked October 17, 2026

From 26 official sources and 2 Airbnb help pages. Not legal advice.

The short answer

Burnaby Airbnb Rules in Brief

Owners only, in the home they live in: no tenants, companies, investment properties or secondary suites.
At most 90 nights a year, and no more than 28 of them away from home (whole-home rental).
City licence $278 for 2026 ($289 from 2027) plus a $55 application fee; provincial registration $100 a year.
Up to four unrelated guests or six family members; city tickets up to $500, court fines of $5,000 to $10,000; guest taxes about 16%.

Browse the live Burnaby Airbnb market Search by revenue, occupancy and neighborhood on an interactive map See Every Burnaby Listing

Revenue, occupancy and nightly rates are in the Burnaby Airbnb market report .

At a glance

Burnaby Airbnb Rules at a Glance

Licence required: Yes
Taxes on a stay: 16%
Yearly night cap: 90 nights
Fine for hosting without a permit: C$10,000
Active Airbnb listings: 524
Next rule change: Jan 1, 2027

The rules in brief

The rules a Burnaby host meets first, each linked to the ordinance, statute or official page it comes from. Details and exceptions follow below.

Burnaby Airbnb Rules at a Glance
Topic	Rule	Since
Permit	A City of Burnaby business licence is required^1,14	August 2022
Who can host	Only in the principal residence of a registered owner^1,5	August 2022
Where	Not allowed in rental units, suites or accessory buildings^5,10	August 2022
Building rules	Strata units need the strata council's written permission^10,11	–
Night cap	90 nights a year, at most 28 of them away from home^1,11	August 2022
Minimum stay	Bookings over 90 days are outside the provincial registry¹⁷	–
Guests	Up to four unrelated guests or six family members^6,10	August 2022
Listing display	Show the City licence number in every advertisement¹	August 2022
Platforms	Platforms remove listings without a valid registration number^19,25	June 2025
Safety	Post a fire safety plan at every entrance and exit^1,13	August 2022
Neighbours	Notify neighbours every year^1,13	August 2022

Your home

Can You Host an Airbnb in Burnaby? It Depends on the Home

Whether you can host in Burnaby turns on whose home it is and whether you live there.

Your own home, rented whole while you are away

Allowed with conditions

Allowed with the city licence and the provincial registration, but only for up to 28 nights a year, inside the 90-night annual cap.^1,11

A room in the home you live in

Allowed with conditions

Allowed with the licence for up to 90 nights a year while you are home, for up to four unrelated guests or six family members at a time.^1,10

A second home or investment property

Not allowed

Not allowed. Burnaby grants licences only for a registered owner's principal residence, and the province's principal residence requirement also applies.^5,10,18

A basement suite, secondary suite or laneway home

Not allowed

The suite or laneway home cannot be a short-term rental. The main home can host only while the suite is rented to a long-term tenant for 30 consecutive days or more.^5,10

A tenant renting their own home

Not allowed

Not allowed. Burnaby does not license tenants, even with the landlord's permission.¹⁰

A condo or townhouse in a strata

Allowed with conditions

Allowed with a letter of permission from the strata council submitted with the licence application. The strata's own bylaws can still prohibit it and allow fines of up to $1,000 a day.^10,11,21

Permit

Do You Need a Permit for Airbnb in Burnaby?

Yes. Short-term rental hosts in Burnaby need the City of Burnaby short-term rental business licence from the City of Burnaby, Licensing; the registration is issued by the Province of British Columbia. It costs C$434.50 in the first year (In 2026 a host pays the city $278 for the licence and a $55 application fee, and the province $101.50 ($100 plus the $1.50 service fee): $434.50 in the first year and $379.50 a year after that. From 1 January 2027 the city charges $289 and $57.) and C$379.50 a year to renew.^{1,2,3,11,12,17}

Who needs it: Every owner who rents out their principal residence for short stays in Burnaby, on Airbnb, Vrbo or anywhere else. The licence is needed before the home is advertised, and the provincial registration is needed as well.^{1,2,3,11,12,17}
Issued by: City of Burnaby, Licensing; the registration is issued by the Province of British Columbia
Valid for: The city licence is valid for the calendar year (1 January to 31 December) whatever the issue date, with no proration, and is renewed every year; the City sends a reminder 30 days before the due date. The provincial registration lasts one year.
On listings: The number must appear on every listing
Platform checks: Airbnb has a field for the provincial registration number, and the address on the listing must match the registered address. Platforms must stop advertising listings without a valid number from 2 June 2025, and must remove a listing that breaks a business licence requirement when the City asks.

Fees

Fees
Fee	Amount	When
City licence, short-term rental$278 for 2026. The licence runs from 1 January to 31 December whenever it is issued, with no proration.	CA$278	annual
City licence, short-term rental$289 from 1 January 2027, the same for a new licence and a renewal.	CA$289	annual
City application fee$55 in 2026, non-refundable, added to the invoice sent after the application is approved.	CA$55	one-time
City application fee$57 from 1 January 2027.	CA$57	one-time
Provincial registration, home where you live$100 a year for your entire home while you are away or for bedrooms in your home.	CA$100	annual
Provincial service fee$1.50 added to each provincial registration fee.	CA$1.50	annual

Who qualifies

Own the home and live in it as your principal residence. Proof is photo identification (BC driver's licence, BC Identification Card, BC Services Card or other government photo ID showing a mailing address) plus two supporting documents such as a BC Hydro or Fortis statement, an insurance policy statement or ICBC vehicle insurance.
Be an individual: tenants and companies cannot hold the licence, and a person may hold only one short-term rental licence and advertise only one rental.
The home cannot be a rental unit, a secondary suite, a lock-off or flex unit, a caretaker residence or an accessory building such as a garage or laneway home, and cannot include a boarding use, child care, group home or a home occupation with on-site clients.
A home that contains a secondary suite qualifies only while the suite is occupied and rented to a long-term tenant for 30 consecutive days or more.
In a strata building, a letter of permission from the strata council is required with the application, and strata bylaws can still ban short-term rentals.
The provincial registration needs BC photo identification, at least two supporting documents (such as a land title certificate, property tax notice or home insurance summary) and a copy of the city licence.

How to apply

Check that you are a registered owner living in the home, that it is not a rental unit or suite, and, in a strata, obtain the strata council's written permission.
Complete the Short Term Rental Licence Application and email it to RentalLicence@burnaby.ca with a fire safety plan, proof of principal residence and the strata letter if one applies. Do not send payment with it.
Pay the invoice the City sends once the application is approved: the licence fee plus the non-refundable application fee.
Register the home with the province through a BC Registries account ($100 plus $1.50), uploading a copy of the city licence, and wait for the registration number.
Add the City licence number and the provincial registration number to every listing, post the licence and the fire safety plan in the home, and give neighbours the annual notice at least 10 days before the first rental of the year.

Applications go through the official application page .

Permit rules

A City of Burnaby business licence is required: Nobody may operate or advertise a short-term rental in Burnaby without a short-term rental business licence from the City. The program began on 1 August 2022.^1,14 In force since August 1, 2022
The licence is for the calendar year, with no proration: A short-term rental licence runs from 1 January to 31 December whenever it is issued, so a late-year applicant pays the full fee. The fee is $278 for 2026 and $289 from 2027.^2,3 In force since January 1, 2026
Payment follows approval; the application fee is not refunded: The City reviews the application first and then sends a notice for payment of the licence fee and a non-refundable application fee. Applicants are told not to send payment with the form.^11,12
Show the City licence number in every advertisement: The Burnaby business licence number must appear in a conspicuous place in any medium used to market the rental. A copy of the licence must also be posted in the home.¹ In force since August 1, 2022
Provincial registration is required as well: Every unit needs a provincial registration number in addition to the city licence: $100 a year plus a $1.50 service fee for the home where the host lives. A copy of the city licence is uploaded with the application.^7,16,17 In force since May 1, 2025
Show the provincial registration number as well: Hosts must display the provincial registration number on the listing, together with the local business licence number where the local government requires one. The listing address must match the registered address.^17,28 In force since May 1, 2025
Platforms remove listings without a valid registration number: Since 2 June 2025 platforms must stop advertising listings without a valid provincial number and block new bookings, and they must remove a listing that breaks a local business licence requirement when the City asks.^19,25 In force since June 2, 2025

Who can host

Who Can Host an Airbnb in Burnaby, and Where

British Columbia state law applies on top of Burnaby's own rules: the British Columbia short-term rental regulations page covers the state licence and what cities and counties can and can't regulate.

Only in the principal residence of a registered owner: Short-term rental is allowed only in the home that a registered owner lives in. Second homes and investment properties cannot be licensed.^1,5 In force since August 1, 2022
Tenants cannot host, even with the landlord's permission: Burnaby licenses homeowners only. A tenant cannot obtain the business licence, whatever the lease or the landlord allows.¹⁰
No companies, and one licence and one rental per person: A corporation cannot be a short-term rental operator. An individual may hold only one licence and may market only one short-term rental under it.¹ In force since August 1, 2022
The provincial principal residence requirement also applies: Burnaby is on the province's list of communities where short-term rentals are limited to the host's principal residence. The city rule is stricter, so the provincial rule adds little for an owner who meets the city's conditions.^18,24 In force since May 1, 2024
Not allowed in rental units, suites or accessory buildings: The zoning bylaw bars short-term rental in a rental unit, a secondary suite, a lock-off unit, a caretaker residence and any accessory building such as a garage or laneway home.^5,10 In force since August 1, 2022
A home with a suite qualifies only if the suite is rented long term: In a home that contains a secondary suite, the main unit can be a short-term rental only while the suite is occupied by a long-term tenant for 30 consecutive days or more.^5,12 In force since January 14, 2025
Strata units need the strata council's written permission: A strata owner submits a letter of permission from the strata council with the licence application.^10,11
A strata can ban short-term rentals and fine up to $1,000 a day: Even with a city licence, strata bylaws can limit or ban short-term rentals, and a strata can fine owners up to $1,000 a day for breaking them.²¹

Operating rules

Operating Rules for Burnaby Short-Term Rentals

90 nights a year, at most 28 of them away from home: An operator may not rent for more than 90 nights in a calendar year, and may not be absent from the home for more than 28 of those nights. The nights need not be consecutive, and the remaining nights are rooms rented while the owner is at home.^1,11 In force since August 1, 2022
Up to four unrelated guests or six family members: No more than four unrelated guests, or six people from the same family, may stay at one time.^6,10 In force since August 1, 2022
Bookings over 90 days are outside the provincial registry: The provincial registry does not cover accommodation of more than 90 days per booking. Burnaby's licence covers short-term rental operators, and its nightly limits apply to the nights an operator rents out.¹⁷
Notify neighbours every year: Operators in a house, duplex or row house give neighbours within 30 metres their contact details and a responsible person's details at least 10 days before the first rental of each calendar year, and keep a record of delivery. Strata properties are exempt.^1,13 In force since August 1, 2022
Be reachable and attend within two hours: The operator or a designated responsible person must come to the rental within two hours of being asked and be available at all times to respond to complaints.¹ In force since August 1, 2022
Give guests the contact details and the house rules: Guests must receive the contact details of the operator and a responsible person and information on Burnaby bylaws covering quiet hours (10 pm to 7 am), parking and garbage and recycling.^1,13 In force since August 1, 2022
Post a fire safety plan at every entrance and exit: A fire safety plan showing two ways out, the fire extinguishers and a meeting point must be posted by all entrances and exits. The City's guidebook has a template.^1,13 In force since August 1, 2022
Keep written records of every booking: Operators keep an English-language record of the dates rented, whether they were home or away on each date and the number of guests, plus receipts or invoices, and give them to a City inspector on request.^1,13 In force since August 1, 2022
Rentals that existed before the rules are not protected: Legal non-conforming use protection no longer applies to short-term rentals in British Columbia, so a rental that predates the bylaw cannot continue on that basis.²⁴ In force since May 1, 2024
The City and the province enforce separate rules: The province enforces registration and the principal residence requirement; Burnaby enforces its own licence, zoning and nightly limits.²⁰

Taxes

How Much Are Airbnb Taxes in Burnaby?

About 16% on the nightly price and cleaning fee for stays of 26 nights or fewer: 5% GST, 8% provincial sales tax and 3% Municipal and Regional District Tax. Airbnb collects all three.

16% in all

How the 16% on a Burnaby stay splits between the taxes in the table below

Median nightly rate, booked nights: US$120
Taxes on that night (16%): US$19
Guest pays, before Airbnb and cleaning fees: US$139

How Much Are Airbnb Taxes in Burnaby?
Tax	Rate	Collected by
Goods and Services Tax (GST) 5% of the nightly price and cleaning fee for stays of 30 nights or fewer	5%^23,27	Airbnb
Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on accommodation 8% of the price, including cleaning and guest fees, for stays of 26 nights or fewer	8%^22,27	Airbnb
Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) 3% of the price, including cleaning and guest fees, for stays of 26 nights or fewer	3%^9,22,27	Airbnb

Total on a stay 16% · All by Airbnb

At Burnaby's median booked rate of US$120 a night, the taxes collected on a booking come to about US$19 a night.

What the host still handles

The City of Burnaby short-term rental business licence and the provincial short-term rental registration, before listing.
A GST/HST account only once taxable sales pass the $30,000 small supplier limit over four consecutive calendar quarters; Airbnb collects GST for hosts who are not registered.
A BC PST account (which also covers MRDT) only if you also take bookings outside a platform that collects the tax, such as through your own website. A host who sells only through a platform stays jointly liable for tax the platform does not remit.^9,22,23,27

Fines

How to Avoid Airbnb Fines in Burnaby

Fines in Burnaby fall on hosting without the approvals described above, or outside the rules. With them in hand and the rules followed, none of the fines below apply.

Conviction under the Business Licence Bylaw: a fine of $5,000 to $10,000, with a separate offence, and separate fines, for each day the offence continues.¹
City bylaw tickets of up to $500 per infraction, with escalating fines for continued non-compliance.^4,10
Ticket schedule: $500 for operating without a licence, marketing without a licence, operating outside a principal residence, exceeding 90 nights or 28 nights away, or failing to attend; $300 to $400 for record-keeping and notice breaches; $200 for not posting the licence. The amount drops by 20% when paid within 15 days.⁴
Provincial administrative penalty for breaching the principal residence requirement or failing to register: up to $5,000 for a first contravention, $7,500 for a second and $10,000 for a third or later, with a separate penalty for each day.^7,8
Provincial penalty for a missing registration number or business licence number on a listing: up to $500 for a first contravention, $750 for a second and $1,000 for a third or later.⁷
A host who does not register has the listing removed, existing bookings cancelled and new bookings blocked.¹⁶
The City can suspend or cancel a business licence for reasonable cause, including breaking a bylaw or being convicted of an offence.¹
A strata corporation can fine an owner or resident up to $1,000 a day for breaking its short-term rental bylaw.²¹

Changes

What's Changed in Burnaby's Airbnb Rules, and What's Next

3 changes are scheduled after October 20, 2026; the most recent rules are listed first.

June 1, 2029 Upcoming
Burnaby's 3% accommodation tax has a scheduled repeal date
The provincial regulation lists the City of Burnaby's 3% Municipal and Regional District Tax with a repeal date of 1 June 2029, unless the regulation is amended to continue it.⁹
June 1, 2027 Upcoming
Earlier opt-out date for communities with healthy vacancy rates
From 2027, a municipality with a rental vacancy rate of 3% or more for two years can ask by 28 February to leave the provincial principal residence requirement from 1 June. Burnaby's own bylaw limit to a principal residence would continue to apply either way.^5,26
January 1, 2027 Upcoming
Short-term rental licence fee rises to $289 and the application fee to $57
Council adopted Bylaw 14850 on 22 September 2026. From 1 January 2027 the licence is $289 (from $278 in 2026) and the non-refundable application fee is $57 (from $55).^2,3
June 2026
Zoning Bylaw 2026 replaces the 1965 zoning bylaw
Burnaby replaced its Zoning Bylaw 1965 with the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026. The short-term rental conditions continue as section 3.3 of Part 6: principal residence of a registered owner, no suites or accessory buildings, and a long-term tenant in any secondary suite.^4,5,15
January 1, 2026
2026 licence fee of $278 and application fee of $55
Bylaw 14766 set the short-term rental licence at $278 and the application fee at $55 for 2026.²
June 2, 2025
Platforms must remove listings without a valid registration number
Platforms must stop advertising unregistered listings and block new bookings from 2 June 2025, and cancel future bookings from 23 June 2025.²⁵
May 1, 2025
Provincial registration number must appear on listings
Hosts had to be registered and show the provincial registration number on their listings by 1 May 2025.^17,25
May 1, 2024
Provincial principal residence requirement takes effect
Short-term rentals became limited to the host's principal residence in communities such as Burnaby, and non-conforming use protection ended for short-term rentals.²⁴
August 1, 2022
Burnaby's short-term rental licensing program starts
Council adopted the licence, zoning and ticketing bylaws in 2022 and the program began on 1 August 2022: owners only, principal residence, 90 nights a year with 28 nights of the whole home.¹⁴

Earnings

What Could a Burnaby Short-Term Rental Earn?

The rules shape the numbers: a licence that costs C$434.50 in the first year, a cap of 90 nights a year and taxes of 16% that Airbnb adds to guests' bills. For a specific address, the short-term rental calculator estimates revenue, occupancy and nightly rate from comparable listings, so you can test the numbers before applying.

Estimate what a Burnaby home could earn

FAQ

Burnaby Airbnb Rules: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Burnaby?

Yes, for homeowners renting the home they live in. Burnaby allows up to 90 nights a year, 28 of them with the whole home rented, and requires a city business licence and a provincial registration. Tenants, companies, investment properties and secondary suites are excluded.^1,5,10

Do I need a permit or licence for Airbnb in Burnaby?

Yes. Anyone who rents out a home short term in Burnaby needs a City of Burnaby business licence before advertising it, and the province also requires a registration number ($100 a year). Both numbers must appear on the listing.^1,7,16,17

How much is the Burnaby short-term rental licence?

In 2026 the licence is $278 plus a non-refundable $55 application fee. From 1 January 2027 it is $289 plus $57, and the licence runs for the calendar year with no proration. The province charges $100 plus a $1.50 service fee on top.^2,3,11,17

Can I rent out a home I don't live in on Airbnb in Burnaby?

No. Short-term rental is allowed only in the principal residence of a registered owner, so second homes and investment properties cannot be licensed. The provincial principal residence requirement also applies in Burnaby.^5,10,18

How many nights can I rent out my home in Burnaby?

At most 90 nights per calendar year, and no more than 28 of those nights can be nights when you are away from your principal residence. The rest must be nights when you are home with the guests.^1,11

Can tenants host on Airbnb in Burnaby?

No. Burnaby does not license tenants, even with the landlord's permission, so a renter cannot obtain the business licence.¹⁰

Can I list a basement suite or laneway home in Burnaby?

No. Short-term rental is not allowed in secondary suites, rental units or accessory buildings such as laneway homes. The main home can host only while the secondary suite is rented to a long-term tenant for 30 consecutive days or more.^5,10

Can I host in a condo or townhouse in a strata?

Yes, with a letter of permission from the strata council submitted with the licence application. A strata can also ban short-term rentals by bylaw and fine owners up to $1,000 a day.^11,21

How many guests can stay at a Burnaby short-term rental?

Up to four unrelated guests, or six people from the same family, at a time.^6,10

Does Airbnb collect hotel tax in Burnaby?

Yes. On stays of 26 nights or fewer Airbnb collects the 8% provincial sales tax and the 3% Municipal and Regional District Tax, plus 5% GST for hosts who are not GST-registered.^9,22,27

How much tax do guests pay on a Burnaby Airbnb stay?

About 16% in total on the price including the cleaning fee: 5% GST, 8% provincial sales tax and 3% Municipal and Regional District Tax.^9,22,27

What is the fine for renting on Airbnb in Burnaby without a licence?

The City issues tickets of $500 for operating or marketing without a licence, and a conviction under the Business Licence Bylaw carries a fine of $5,000 to $10,000, with a separate offence for each day. The province can add administrative penalties of up to $10,000.^1,4,7

How many Burnaby Airbnbs are registered?

In AirROI's listing data, 91% of the 524 Burnaby Airbnb listings active in the 12 months to September 2026 displayed a permit, licence or registration number. A number on a listing shows the host entered one; it doesn't confirm the permit is valid.

How much does an Airbnb make in Burnaby?

The average Burnaby listing earned US$19,100 in the 12 months to September 2026, according to AirROI, averaged across every active listing including those booked for only part of the year. The Burnaby Airbnb market report breaks it down by month, property size and neighborhood.

Method

How These Rules Were Checked

Each rule on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official source cited beside it: the ordinance or statute, the permit office's own pages and the tax authority. Airbnb's help pages are cited on their own only for what Airbnb itself does, such as the taxes it collects and the permit checks it runs, and otherwise only beside an official source; news reports only for when a change was announced. Rules that could not be confirmed on an official page are left out.

Rules change with council votes, court rulings and new state laws, so the page is rechecked every three months and whenever a scheduled change takes effect. It summarizes the rules for information and is not legal advice; the local authority has the final word on any application.

Listing figures come from AirROI's tracking of 524 active Burnaby Airbnb listings over the 12 months to September 2026.

Sources

Each rule above links to the source it comes from. Official ordinances, statutes and government pages come first, then Airbnb's own help pages.

1. Burnaby Business Licence Bylaw 2017 (Bylaw No. 13809), consolidated, Schedule G Short-Term Rental Regulations · City of Burnaby
2. Burnaby Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw No. 3, 2025 (Bylaw No. 14766), in force 1 January 2026 · City of Burnaby
3. Burnaby Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw No. 7, 2026 (Bylaw No. 14850), in force 1 January 2027 · City of Burnaby
4. Burnaby Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2009 (Bylaw No. 12657), consolidated, Schedule A and Schedule G · City of Burnaby
5. Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 6 Use-Specific Regulations (section 3.3 Short-Term Rentals) · City of Burnaby
6. Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 2 Definitions · City of Burnaby
7. Short-Term Rental Accommodations Regulation (B.C. Reg. 268/2023), section 4.6 and Schedule 4 · BC Laws, King's Printer
8. Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, section 27 · BC Laws, King's Printer
9. Designated Accommodation Area Tax Regulation (B.C. Reg. 93/2013), Schedule 1 · BC Laws, King's Printer
10. Short-Term Rentals · City of Burnaby
11. Business Licences · City of Burnaby
12. Short Term Rental Licence Application · City of Burnaby
13. Short-Term Rental Operator's Guidebook · City of Burnaby
14. City of Burnaby adopts regulatory framework for Short Term Rentals · City of Burnaby
15. Zoning Bylaw · City of Burnaby
16. Short-term rental registration · Province of British Columbia
17. Register as a host · Province of British Columbia
18. B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement · Province of British Columbia
19. B.C.'s short-term rental legislation · Province of British Columbia
20. Short-term rental compliance and enforcement · Province of British Columbia
21. Strata short-term rental bylaws · Province of British Columbia
22. PST and MRDT on accommodation · Province of British Columbia
23. When to register for and start charging the GST/HST · Canada Revenue Agency
24. New rules take effect to rein in short-term rentals, deliver more homes · BC Gov News
25. Province moving forward on short-term rental rules · BC Gov News
26. Accelerating short-term rental opt-out process · BC Gov News
27. Tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Canada · Airbnb Help Centre
28. British Columbia · Airbnb Help Centre