Prices in

Local Airbnb rules2026 25 sources cited

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

Yes, but only in your own principal residence, with a City of Vancouver short-term rental business licence (License By-law 4450) and a BC provincial registration under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, both shown on every listing.^2,7,9

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou, Founder @ AirROI Updated November 4, 2026

From 24 official sources and 1 Airbnb help page, checked October 18, 2026. Not legal advice.

The short answer

Vancouver Airbnb Rules in Brief

Only your principal residence: owners, or tenants with written landlord approval; suites and laneway homes only if you live in them.
City licence: $77 application plus $1,108 a year, renewed by December 31; BC registration is $100 a year plus a $1.50 service fee.
Stays must be under 90 consecutive days with one booking at a time; strata or landlord approval is needed in writing first.
Guests pay about 19.2% in taxes on stays under 27 nights: 8% PST, 3% MRDT, 2.5% Major Events MRDT and 5% GST.

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

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

At a glance

Vancouver Airbnb Rules at a Glance

Licence required: Yes
Taxes on a stay: 19.175%
Fine for hosting without a permit: Up to C$1,000
Short-stay listings showing a permit number: 96%
Next rule change: Jan 31, 2030

Listing figures: AirROI, 12 months to October 2026. A number on a listing doesn't prove the permit or licence is valid, and a missing one doesn't prove there is none.

The rules in brief

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

Vancouver Airbnb Rules at a Glance
Topic	Rule	Since
Permit	Register every unit with the province and show the number^9,11,12	May 2025
Who can host	Only your own principal residence^2,7,8	April 2018
Where	Suites and laneway homes only if you live in them^1,7,8	April 2018
Building rules	Tenants need written landlord approval^2,7,8	April 2018
Minimum stay	Short-term means under 90 consecutive days^7,8,11	–
Guests	One booking per property at a time^1,7	April 2018
Listing display	Show the City licence number everywhere you advertise^2,7	April 2018
Platforms	Platforms must remove unlicensed listings on the City's request^9,17	May 2024
Safety	Fire and life-safety equipment^2,7	April 2018
Insurance	Check your insurance allows short-term rental⁷	–
Neighbours	24-7 contact and neighbour rules^2,7	April 2018

Your home

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

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

The home you live in, rented whole while you are away

Allowed

Allowed if the home is your principal residence, you hold the City licence and BC registration, and each stay is under 90 consecutive days. Only one booking is allowed at a time.^7,8,11

A room or rooms in the home you live in, with you present

Allowed

Allowed under the same City licence and BC registration; the City covers renting your entire home or a room within it, and BC's $100 registration fee covers bedrooms in your own home. You can rent several rooms to the same group but not separate rooms to different guests at once.^6,7,11

A basement suite, secondary suite or laneway house

Allowed with conditions

Allowed only if you live in that specific unit, not the main house, and you cannot rent both the main house and the suite. BC's rule alone would allow one extra suite on your property, but Vancouver's rule is stricter.^7,10

A second home or investment property

Not allowed

Not allowed: the City licenses only the home where you live, allows one licence per person, and does not accept multiple properties. BC's own example says an owner who lives in one home cannot list any of their other condo units.^4,7,11

A place you rent as a tenant

Allowed with conditions

Allowed if it is the unit you live in and you have your landlord's written approval before you apply for the City licence.^7,8

A condo or apartment in a strata building

Allowed with conditions

Allowed only if it is your principal residence and your strata council approves in writing before you apply. A strata can ban short-term rentals by bylaw (3/4 vote of owners) and fine up to $1,000 a day.^8,24

Permit

Do You Need a Permit for Airbnb in Vancouver?

Yes. Short-term rental hosts in Vancouver need the City of Vancouver short-term rental business licence from the City of Vancouver (Chief Licence Inspector, Business Licence Office), under License By-law No. 4450. It costs C$77.^2,7,9

Who needs it: Anyone offering their Vancouver home, or a room in it, for stays of under 90 consecutive days. Owners and long-term tenants qualify only if the unit is their own principal residence.^2,7,9
Issued by: City of Vancouver (Chief Licence Inspector, Business Licence Office), under License By-law No. 4450
Valid for: Calendar year; renew every year by December 31 and update the licence number on your listings
Processing: The City says it may contact applicants within 5 business days to verify the application; no decision deadline is published.
On listings: The number must appear on every listing
Platform checks: Platforms must remove a listing at the local government's request if it does not comply with a business licence requirement. Platforms also validate the provincial registration number; the City licence number must be shown on every listing.

Fees

Fees
Fee	Amount	When
Application fee (new licence)$77 non-refundable application fee	CA$77	one-time
Annual licence fee$1,108 a year, non-refundable; prorated in the first year based on when you start	CA$1,108	annual
Late renewal penalty$111 late fee if the renewal is after December 31	CA$111	one-time

Who qualifies

The property is your principal residence unit (where you live, pay bills and receive mail)
You own the property, or you are a long-term tenant with written landlord approval
You rent your entire home or a room within it for fewer than 90 consecutive days
Strata council approval in writing if the unit is in a strata; landlord approval in writing if you are a tenant
One licence per person; multiple properties and accessory buildings (garages, studios) do not qualify
The home is a legal dwelling unit that meets the City's fire-safety requirements

How to apply

Check you meet the eligibility conditions (principal residence, owner or tenant with approval, stays under 90 days).
Make sure the home meets the safety requirements: legal dwelling unit, 24-7 guest contact, interconnected smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, posted fire plan.
Get written approval from your strata corporation (if in a strata) or your landlord (if you are a tenant) before applying.
Apply online with government-issued ID and the strata or landlord approval letter, and pay the $77 application fee and the (prorated) $1,108 licence fee.
Be ready for the City to contact you within 5 business days to verify the application, and to give access for inspection if needed.
After the City licence is issued, register with the Province of BC and pay the separate provincial fee, then show both numbers on every listing.

Applications go through the official application page .

Permit rules

Show the City licence number everywhere you advertise: The licence number must be in all online listings and advertisements, a paper copy must be posted in the rental unit, and the number must be updated on the listing every year at renewal. You may only advertise while the licence is active, even if no bookings are made.^2,7 In force since April 18, 2018
Platforms must remove unlicensed listings on the City's request: If a listing does not comply with a business licence requirement, the platform must remove it at the local government's request; platforms also share listing data with local governments monthly.^9,17 Applies to: platforms · In force since May 1, 2024
Register every unit with the province and show the number: Since May 1, 2025, all short-term rental hosts and platforms operating in B.C. must be registered with the provincial registry. Hosts must include the registration number on their listing.^9,11,12 In force since May 1, 2025
One registration per unit: Each short-term rental unit must be registered, and a host with several listings for the same unit needs only one registration. A secondary suite on the same property needs its own registration.^11,15
Registry fee: $100 where you live, $450 for another unit: The annual provincial fee is $100 for a rental in the host's principal residence (whole home while away, or rooms) and $450 for a secondary suite or other unit the host does not live in. A $1.50 service fee is added, and fees are not refunded if an application is denied.^6,11 In force since January 20, 2025
Provincial registration lasts one year: Registrations are valid for one year; hosts can renew starting 40 days before expiry, and a missed renewal can lead to the listing being removed and bookings cancelled.¹³
Show provincial number, City licence number and registered address: Once approved, add the provincial registration number, the local business licence number (where required) and the registered address to every listing; the address must match the registry exactly or platform validation fails.^11,14 In force since May 1, 2025
Platforms validate registration numbers; failed listings come down: Platforms must check each listing's registration number against the provincial registry. Validation enforcement began June 2, 2025 (extended from May 1); from June 23, 2025 a failed listing must also have existing bookings cancelled.^9,14,15 Applies to: platforms · In force since June 2, 2025

Who can host

Who Can Host an Airbnb in Vancouver, and Where

British Columbia state law applies on top of Vancouver'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 your own principal residence: The City only licenses short-term rentals of the home where the operator lives, pays bills and receives mail. Investment properties and second homes cannot be licensed.^2,7,8 In force since April 18, 2018
One licence per person, one principal residence: Only one licence per person is allowed, and a person can have only one principal residence unit. Operating from multiple properties does not qualify.^4,7
Corporations and societies cannot hold the licence: The licensing by-law says a corporation or society may not carry on the business of a short-term rental operator, so the licence is held by an individual.² In force since April 18, 2018
Suites and laneway homes only if you live in them: A basement suite, secondary suite or laneway house can be a short-term rental only if you live in that specific unit, not the main house. You cannot rent both the main house and the suite as short-term rentals; garages, studios and other accessory buildings are not allowed.^1,7,8 In force since April 18, 2018
Tenants need written landlord approval: Long-term tenants can host if they live in the unit and have their landlord's written approval before they apply.^2,7,8 Applies to: tenants · In force since April 18, 2018
Strata approval is required, and stratas can ban short-term rentals: Residents of a strata must have strata council approval before applying for the City licence. Separately, BC lets a strata pass a bylaw (3/4 vote) that limits or bans short-term rentals and fines up to $1,000 a day.^2,7,8,24 Applies to: strata lots (condos, most duplexes) · In force since April 18, 2018
Provincial principal residence requirement applies in Vancouver: Under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, short-term rentals are limited to the host's principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. It applies in municipalities of 10,000 people or more, including Vancouver; Vancouver's own bylaw is stricter and allows a suite only if it is your own home.^5,9,10,17 In force since May 1, 2024
What counts as a principal residence (provincial): The Act defines the principal residence as the usual place where an individual makes their home. Fees and eligibility are set per unit, not per property.^5,10

Operating rules

Operating Rules for Vancouver Short-Term Rentals

Short-term means under 90 consecutive days: The licence covers renting your home or a room for fewer than 90 consecutive days. Stays of 90 days or more are long-term rentals under a different City licence, and the province exempts bookings over 90 days from registration.^7,8,11
One booking per property at a time: Only one booking is allowed per property at a time; you can rent several rooms to the same group but not separate rooms to different guests. The zoning by-law also limits each bedroom to two adults.^1,7 In force since April 18, 2018
Fire and life-safety equipment: The home must be a legal dwelling unit with interconnected smoke alarms on every floor and in every bedroom, carbon monoxide detectors on every floor with gas appliances, and a working fire extinguisher on every floor. A fire plan must be posted at entrances and exits, and detectors and extinguishers tested annually with records kept.^2,7 In force since April 18, 2018
Attached units need sprinklers or fire separation: If the rental is attached to another dwelling unit, it needs an automated sprinkler system or a fire separation of at least 45 minutes fire-resistance rating. Buildings with more than 3 dwelling units or 10 occupants need a fire alarm system.^2,7 Applies to: attached or multi-unit buildings · In force since January 1, 2023
24-7 contact and neighbour rules: Hosts must give guests 24-7 contact information and make sure guests follow noise and nuisance by-laws, park legally and manage garbage.^2,7 In force since April 18, 2018
Check your insurance allows short-term rental: The City tells hosts to review their insurance policies to make sure short-term rentals are allowed and that they are properly covered; it does not prescribe a minimum cover amount.⁷
Inspections and record-keeping: City staff can inspect at reasonable hours, and may audit marketing and booking records and proof of principal residence. Hosts must keep fire-safety inspection and maintenance records.^2,4,7
Property managers need a licensed host: A property manager may not manage a short-term rental unless the operator holds a valid City licence, and must put the operator's licence number in every advertisement and remove listings when the City asks.⁴ Applies to: property managers · In force since January 1, 2020
Registry exemptions (not relevant to typical Vancouver homes): The province does not require registration for stays over 90 days per booking, hotels and motels, reserve lands, vehicles and tents, time shares, home exchanges, student or employee housing, strata guest suites, and seasonal accommodation not suitable for year-round residence. These do not override the City's licence rules.^9,11,15 Applies to: listed accommodation types

Taxes

How Much Are Airbnb Taxes in Vancouver?

About 19.2% on the nightly price and fees for stays under 27 nights: 8% PST + 3% MRDT + 2.5% Major Events MRDT (13.5% together), then 5% GST on the price plus those taxes, as in BC's own worked example ($200 becomes $238.35).

Median nightly rate, booked nights: CA$270
Taxes on that night (19.175%): CA$52
Guest pays, before Airbnb and cleaning fees: CA$322

How Much Are Airbnb Taxes in Vancouver?
Tax	Rate	Collected by
GST (federal goods and services tax) on short-term accommodation 5% of the price, including cleaning fees	5%^19,20,21,25	Airbnb, unless the host is registered
BC provincial sales tax (PST) on short-term accommodation 8% of the purchase price, including additional fees	8%^18,25	Airbnb
Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT), City of Vancouver 3% of the purchase price	3%^18,25	Airbnb
Major Events MRDT, City of Vancouver (temporary) 2.5% of the purchase price, from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2030	2.5%^18,25	Airbnb

Total on a stay 19.175% · Airbnb, except as noted

At Vancouver's median booked rate of CA$270 a night, the taxes collected on a booking come to about CA$52 a night.

What the host still handles

City of Vancouver short-term rental business licence, then BC provincial short-term rental registration (these are permits, not taxes).
GST/HST: required if you earn more than $30,000 gross from accommodation over four calendar quarters (optional below that); if you are not registered, Airbnb collects GST from guests for you.
PST and MRDT: no registration needed if you only sell through an online marketplace such as Airbnb, but you must register if you also take bookings another way (for example your own website), and you stay jointly liable for tax the platform fails to collect.^{18,19,20,21,22,25}

Fines

How to Avoid Airbnb Fines in Vancouver

Fines in Vancouver 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.

City of Vancouver: hosting without the required licence or approvals can bring fines of up to $1,000 for each offence, or prosecution; the City's ticket-offences by-law sets $1,000 for having no business licence.^3,7
City of Vancouver enforcement escalates from education to fines, licence suspensions or legal action; 224 licences were suspended in 2026 as of September 3, 2026.⁷
Province: the maximum municipal ticketing fine a local government may set for short-term rental bylaw breaches rose from $1,000 to $3,000 per infraction, per day (a ceiling, not Vancouver's posted ticket amount).⁹
Province (administrative penalties, maximum): breaching the principal residence requirement $5,000 first time, $7,500 second, $10,000 third or later; failing to register a short-term rental offer $5,000 / $7,500 / $10,000; failing to show a valid registration number or business licence number on a listing $500 / $750 / $1,000.^6,16
Province: if a contravention continues for more than one day, a separate administrative penalty, each up to the maximum, may be imposed for each day it continues.⁵
Province: platforms that fail to confirm the validity of a registration number face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 (first), $15,000 (second) and $20,000 (third or later); listings that fail validation are removed and bookings cancelled.^6,14,15
Province: the compliance unit can also issue compliance orders, seek court injunctions and publish compliance decisions.¹⁶
Strata: a strata can fine up to $1,000 a day for breaking its short-term rental bylaw.²⁴
Federal: the CRA denies income-tax deductions for expenses of non-compliant short-term rentals from the 2024 tax year.^21,22

Changes

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

One change is scheduled after November 4, 2026; the most recent rules are listed first.

January 31, 2030 Upcoming
Vancouver Major Events MRDT scheduled to end
The extra 2.5% MRDT is set to apply until January 31, 2030.¹⁸
December 15, 2025
Registration simplified: one registration per unit
Regulation amendments made on December 4 and 15, 2025 require one registration per unit (not per listing), exempt units not suitable for year-round residence, and update the accepted proof of principal residency.^11,15
November 27, 2025
Act amended (Bill 25-2025)
Amendments revised the definition of 'principal residence', added enforcement tools against false or misleading registration information, and allowed penalties to be reduced or cancelled by agreement.¹⁵
June 9, 2025
Registry data can be shared with the CRA
B.C. regulation OIC 277/2025 lets the Ministry of Finance share short-term rental registrant information with the Canada Revenue Agency to enforce tax laws.¹⁵
June 2, 2025
Platform validation begins; bookings cancelled from June 23
Platforms must stop advertising listings that fail validation and block new bookings from June 2, 2025 (extended from May 1); from June 23, 2025 they must also cancel existing bookings.^14,15
May 1, 2025
Provincial registration becomes mandatory
All hosts and platforms operating in B.C. must be registered; hosts must show the provincial registration number on listings.^9,11
January 20, 2025
Provincial registry regulations made
B.C. regulations set registry fees, registration exemptions, platform validation duties and maximum penalties.¹⁵
May 1, 2024
BC principal residence requirement takes effect
Short-term rentals are limited to the host's principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory unit in communities over 10,000 people, including Vancouver. Local governments can request platform removal of listings without a valid business licence from the same date.^15,17
January 1, 2024
Federal deduction denial for non-compliant short-term rentals
Section 67.7 of the Income Tax Act denies deductions from short-term rental income earned after 2023 for non-compliant rentals; a one-year 2024 transition relief applied if compliant by December 31, 2024.^21,22
October 26, 2023
BC passes the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act
The Act was passed to give local governments stronger enforcement tools and create a provincial role, with parts coming into force later.^15,24
February 1, 2023
Vancouver Major Events MRDT starts
An extra 2.5% MRDT applies to short-term accommodation in the City of Vancouver from February 1, 2023 until January 31, 2030.¹⁸
January 1, 2020
One principal residence per person; property-manager rules
By-law 12581 (enacted November 26, 2019) took effect: a person can have only one principal residence unit, operators must produce proof of residence on request, and property managers need a licensed operator.⁴
April 18, 2018
Vancouver enacts its short-term rental by-laws
By-laws 12078 (zoning), 12079 (licence) and 12080 (ticket offences) were enacted, creating the principal-residence-only short-term rental licence. A 45-minute fire separation rule for attached units applied from January 1, 2023.^1,2,3

Listing data

What Vancouver's Listings Show

AirROI, a short-term-rental data firm, counted 3,910 active Airbnb listings in Vancouver over the 12 months to October 2026. 87% of them display a permit, licence or registration number on the listing. Among listings that accept stays shorter than 30 nights, 96% show one, against 43% of listings that require 30 nights or more.

Vancouver listings showing a permit number, by minimum stay

Active Airbnb listings, 12 months to October 2026

Stays under 30 nights (3,260 listings): 96%
30 nights or more (649 listings): 43%
All listings (3,910): 87%

Minimum stay set on Vancouver listings

Share of active listings by the shortest stay they accept, 12 months to October 2026

22%

33%

16%

17%

Minimum stay in numbers

Minimum stay set on Vancouver listings
Shortest stay accepted	Share of listings
1 night	22%
2 nights	33%
3 nights	16%
4–6 nights	8%
7–13 nights	3%
14–29 nights	2%
30 nights or more	17%

17% of Vancouver's active listings accept only stays of 30 nights or more.

Hosts with more than one entire home account for 29% of Vancouver's active entire-home listings, and hosts with five or more for 11%. The count is by Airbnb host account, so a company running homes for several owners counts as one host, and listings that take only monthly stays are included.

Share of Vancouver listings showing a permit number

Active Airbnb listings displaying a permit, licence or registration number, by monthly snapshot; a gap where a snapshot was left out as unreliable

90% 70%

Monthly figures

Share of Vancouver listings showing a permit number
Snapshot	Share
Sep 2025	70%
Oct 2025	75%
Nov 2025	77%
Dec 2025	78%
Jan 2026	80%
Feb 2026	81%
Mar 2026	82%
Apr 2026	83%
May 2026	–
Jun 2026	–
Jul 2026	88%
Aug 2026	89%
Sep 2026	90%
Oct 2026	87%

The share rose from 70% in Sep 2025 to 87% in the latest snapshot (the series starts in Sep 2025, when AirROI began capturing the number consistently).

What officials report

6,517: Active short-term rental listings in Vancouver · as of September 3, 2026The City counts 6,517 active listings; one licence can cover listings on several platforms.⁷
3,915: Short-term rental business licences issued for 2026 · as of September 3, 2026The City's web page reports 3,915 licences issued for 2026. Its open-data table, extracted later on September 28, 2026, shows 3,905 records with status Issued for licence year 2026 (plus 233 Pending); that count leaves out licences whose status has since changed, such as Cancelled (176) or Gone Out of Business (419), so it can sit below the web-page figure.^7,23
224: Short-term rental licences suspended in 2026 · as of September 3, 2026The City reports 224 licences suspended in 2026.⁷
3,075: 2025 licence-year records with status Issued (open data) · as of September 28, 2026Records in the City's open data for licence year 2025 that still show status Issued at the extract date; licences since marked Cancelled or Gone Out of Business are counted under those statuses.²³

Earnings

What Could a Vancouver Short-Term Rental Earn?

The rules shape the numbers: a licence that costs C$1,108 a year and taxes of 19.175% added 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 Vancouver home could earn

FAQ

Vancouver Airbnb Rules: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Vancouver?

Yes, but only in your own principal residence. You need a City of Vancouver short-term rental business licence and a BC provincial registration number, both shown on your listing, and each stay must be under 90 consecutive days.^7,8,11

Can I Airbnb my condo or apartment in Vancouver?

Only if the condo is your principal residence, and you need written approval from your strata council before you apply. A strata can also ban short-term rentals by bylaw and fine owners up to $1,000 a day.^7,8,24

Can tenants Airbnb in Vancouver?

Yes, if it is the unit you live in and you have your landlord's written approval before applying (plus strata approval if it is in a strata).^7,8

Can I rent out an investment property or second home on Airbnb in Vancouver?

No. The City licenses only the home you live in, allows one licence per person, and does not accept multiple properties or accessory buildings such as garages and studios.^4,7

Can I Airbnb my basement suite or laneway house in Vancouver?

Only if you live in that specific suite or laneway house, not in the main house, and you cannot rent both. The province's rule alone would allow one extra suite on your property, but Vancouver's rule is stricter.^7,10

Is BC's principal residence rule different from Vancouver's?

Yes. The province allows a host's principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property, but Vancouver only licenses the unit you live in. The provincial rule is a minimum, so hosts must also follow the stricter City bylaw.^7,10

How much is a Vancouver short-term rental licence?

A new licence costs a $77 non-refundable application fee plus a $1,108 annual licence fee, prorated in the first year. Renewal is $1,108 a year by December 31, and a $111 late fee applies after that.⁷

Do I need to register with the BC short-term rental registry?

Yes. Since May 1, 2025 every host must register each unit and show the provincial registration number on the listing. The fee is $100 a year (plus a $1.50 service fee) for a rental where you live, and platforms remove listings that fail validation.^6,9,11

What taxes do guests pay on an Airbnb stay in Vancouver?

For stays of 26 nights or shorter, Airbnb collects 8% PST, 3% MRDT and a temporary 2.5% Major Events MRDT (through January 31, 2030), plus 5% GST. BC says GST also applies to those provincial taxes in Vancouver; in its worked example a $200 room becomes $238.35.^18,19,25

Do I have to register for GST as an Airbnb host in Vancouver?

Only if you earn more than $30,000 in gross revenue over four calendar quarters from accommodation sharing. If you are not registered, Airbnb collects GST from guests on your behalf.^21,25

Do I pay income tax on Airbnb income in Canada?

Yes. The Canada Revenue Agency says all income from an accommodation sharing arrangement is subject to income tax, reported as rental income (Form T776) or, if you also provide services such as cleaning, as business income (Form T2125). Since 2024 it also denies expense deductions for non-compliant short-term rentals.^21,22

What happens if I Airbnb without a permit in Vancouver?

The City says non-compliance may bring fines of up to $1,000 per offence, prosecution or licence suspension. The province can impose penalties of up to $5,000 for a first registration or principal-residence breach, rising to $10,000, and can count each day separately. Platforms must also remove listings that fail registration validation.^5,6,7,14

Do I need a licence to rent out my place for just a couple of weeks, like during the World Cup?

Yes. The City says renting your home for fewer than 90 consecutive days needs a short-term rental licence, and the BC registration is required as well. The home must be your principal residence, and the first-year licence fee is prorated from when you start.^7,8,11

How many Vancouver Airbnbs are registered?

Short-term rental business licences issued for 2026: 3,915 as of September 3, 2026^7,23. In AirROI's listing data, 87% of the 3,910 Vancouver Airbnb listings active in the 12 months to October 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 Vancouver?

The average Vancouver listing earned CA$58,200 in the 12 months to October 2026, according to AirROI, averaged across every active listing including those booked for only part of the year. The Vancouver 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 3,910 active Vancouver Airbnb listings over the 12 months to October 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. By-law No. 12078: Zoning and Development By-law amendments re Short Term Rental Accommodation (enacted 2018-04-18) · City of Vancouver
2. By-law No. 12079: amendments to License By-law No. 4450 re Short Term Rental Accommodation (enacted 2018-04-18) · City of Vancouver
3. By-law No. 12080: amendments to Ticket Offences By-law No. 9360 re Short Term Rental Accommodation (enacted 2018-04-18) · City of Vancouver
4. By-law No. 12581: amendments to License By-law No. 4450 re Short Term Rental Regulations and Property Managers (enacted 2019-11-26) · City of Vancouver
5. Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, SBC 2023, c. 33 · BC Laws (Queen's Printer)
6. Short-Term Rental Accommodations Regulation, B.C. Reg. 268/2023 · BC Laws (Queen's Printer)
7. Short-term rental business licence · City of Vancouver
8. What residents need to know about short-term rentals for summer 2026 (Oct 14, 2025) · City of Vancouver
9. B.C.'s short-term rental legislation · Province of British Columbia
10. B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement · Province of British Columbia
11. Register as a host (short-term rental registry) · Province of British Columbia
12. Short-term rental registration · Province of British Columbia
13. Renew your short-term rental registration · Province of British Columbia
14. Short-term rental listing removed (platform validation) · Province of British Columbia
15. Subscribing for updates to B.C.'s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and regulations (change log) · Province of British Columbia
16. Short-term rental compliance and enforcement · Province of British Columbia
17. New rules take effect to rein in short-term rentals, deliver more homes (news release, 2024-04-18) · BC Gov News
18. Accommodation (PST and MRDT) · Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Finance
19. Platform-based short-term accommodation: GST/HST for digital-economy businesses · Canada Revenue Agency
20. Platform-based short-term accommodation threshold amounts: GST/HST for digital-economy businesses · Canada Revenue Agency
21. Sharing economy - Taxes and the platform economy · Canada Revenue Agency
22. Changes to rules for eligible deductions from short-term rental income (2025-01-22) · Canada Revenue Agency
23. Business licences (dataset; businesstype = Short-term Rental Operator) · City of Vancouver Open Data Portal
24. Strata short-term rental bylaws (published 2025-01-02) · Province of British Columbia
25. Tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Canada · Airbnb Help Centre