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

Permit required

Yes

Taxes on a stay

18.5%

Fine for hosting without a permit

C$25,000

Listings showing a permit number

69%

Next rule change

January 2027

Listing figures: AirROI, 12 months to September 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

Who needs it

Anyone renting all or part of a principal residence in Montreal to tourists for 31 days or less. A home that is not the host's residence needs a certificate of occupancy in a permitted commercial sector and a CITQ registration instead.^{3,5,6,12,14,28}

Issued by

Ville de Montréal (host permit) and the Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec, CITQ (provincial registration)

Valid for

The City host permit is valid for one year from the day it is issued, cannot be sold, rented or transferred, and is renewed each year; the CITQ certificate lasts 12 months. The City's online application period has ended for now and reopens in early 2027.

Processing

The permit arrives by e-mail within a few days of an accepted application.

On listings

The number must appear on every listing

Platform checks

Quebec law bars platforms from publishing an offer without a valid CITQ number and certificate expiry date, and Airbnb blocks listings with expired registrations. The City tells hosts to publish no advertisement without a valid host permit.

Fees

Who qualifies

• The home must be the host's principal residence, the place where they usually live and centre their family and social activities, at the address they give to most government bodies, including the tax authorities. An owner must live on site; a tenant needs a lease that allows short-term tourist use or the landlord's written authorization (and the authorization of other tenants named on the lease).
• The use must not breach the borough's zoning (or must be specially authorized), the home must hold a valid CITQ registration that is not suspended, and a permit for the same home must not have been revoked in the previous year.
• Not available in Lachine, Saint-Laurent and Saint-Léonard; every other borough allows it from 10 June to 10 September.
• Rent to one person or group under a single reservation, and serve no meals.
• Documents: a signed statement that the home is the principal residence, the latest provincial notice of assessment, photo ID, a title deed or tax bill (owners) or the lease (tenants), and for a condo the declaration of co-ownership provisions allowing tourist use or the syndicate's authorization.

How to apply

1. 1 Check that the home is your principal residence and is not in Lachine, Saint-Laurent or Saint-Léonard.
2. 2 Fill in the City's online form and upload the documents. If you do not yet have a CITQ certificate, include the completed CITQ notice of compliance form.
3. 3 Go to an Accès Montréal office with photo ID and a printed copy of your latest provincial notice of assessment to have your identity checked, and pay the $350 plus taxes processing fee.
4. 4 If you sent the notice of compliance form, the City e-mails it back signed; send it to the CITQ, register and pay its fee, then confirm your CITQ number to the City by replying to its e-mail.
5. 5 Receive the permit by e-mail, print it and display it so it is visible from the street, and renew it each year.

Permit rules

City host permit: $350 plus taxes, renewed every year

On top of the provincial registration, a principal-residence host needs a Montreal host permit, applied for online and paid in person at an Accès Montréal office. The permit is renewed every year.^3,6,12 In force since June 10, 2025

The City issues the permit only if zoning, CITQ registration and revocation conditions are met

The permit is issued when the application is complete, the use does not breach the borough's zoning (or has been specially authorized), the home is registered with the CITQ and the registration is not suspended, and no permit for the home was revoked in the previous year.³ In force since March 25, 2025

The permit lasts one year, cannot be transferred and can be revoked

The host permit is valid for one year from issue and cannot be sold, rented or transferred. The City can revoke it when a condition is no longer met, when it was granted on false information, when the CITQ registration is suspended or cancelled, or when the holder refuses inspectors access, after a written notice and 10 days to comment; the fee is not refunded.³ In force since March 25, 2025

CITQ registration: $54 a year for a principal residence

Every rental of 31 days or less must also be registered with the CITQ. A principal-residence establishment pays $54 to register and to renew in 2026; any other home pays $156.^14,28 In force since January 1, 2026

City permit number in every offer, permit displayed on the building

The host must keep the City permit number in every accommodation offer for the establishment and display the permit on the building, clearly visible from the public street and, where applicable, in the common entrance hall so it can be seen from outside.^3,6,12 In force since March 25, 2025

CITQ number in every advertisement

The registration number must appear in all advertisements, on social media and on any website promoting the rental, and platform listings must also show the certificate's expiry date.^16,17 In force since September 1, 2023

Platforms may not publish unregistered offers

A digital accommodation platform may not publish an offer that lacks the registration number and certificate expiry date, or enable a booking of under 32 days at an unregistered establishment. Airbnb states that listings with an expired registration are blocked from hosting short stays.^1,17,29 In force since September 1, 2023

Only your principal residence

The home rented to tourists must be the host's principal residence, meaning the home where they usually live and centre their family and social activities, at the address they give to most government bodies. An owner must live on site.^3,6 In force since June 10, 2025

Banned in Lachine, Saint-Laurent and Saint-Léonard

Renting a principal residence to tourists is prohibited in the boroughs of Lachine, Saint-Laurent and Saint-Léonard; every other borough allows it in the season.^5,6 Applies to: Lachine, Saint-Laurent, Saint-Léonard

Two proofs of principal residence at registration and renewal

Since 1 September 2026 a principal-residence applicant must supply two documents proving the home is their principal residence, both at first registration and at every renewal.^15,17 In force since September 1, 2026

A room follows the same rules as the whole home

Renting a room in your principal residence needs the same permits and is limited to the same 10 June to 10 September season as renting the whole home.^5,8

Tenants need the lease or the landlord's written approval

A tenant's lease must authorize short-term tourist use, or the tenant must get the landlord's written authorization. If other tenants are named on the lease, their authorization is also required.⁶

Condo owners need the declaration or the syndicate's authorization, renewed yearly

A condo host files the declaration of co-ownership provisions that allow tourist use, or the syndicate's authorization. The owner's and syndicate's authorizations are renewed with each annual CITQ renewal.^6,16 In force since September 1, 2026

A home that is not your residence needs a certificate of occupancy

To rent a home that is not the host's principal residence for stays of 31 days or less through the year, a certificate of occupancy is needed, and this is possible only in certain areas of Montreal. By-law 25-007 does not apply to those establishments, which follow borough zoning.^3,5,7

Nine boroughs prohibit second-home tourist rentals outright

The City's borough pages say commercial tourist homes are prohibited throughout Anjou, Lachine, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montréal-Nord, Outremont, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Saint-Laurent, Saint-Léonard and Verdun.⁷ Applies to: Anjou, Lachine, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montréal-Nord, Outremont, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Saint-Laurent, Saint-Léonard, Verdun

Ville-Marie: only Rue Sainte-Catherine between Saint-Mathieu and Atateken

In Ville-Marie a home that is not the host's residence can be rented to tourists only in sector M.9, Rue Sainte-Catherine between Rue Saint-Mathieu and Rue Atateken. Such homes must be at least 150 metres apart and need borough council approval as a conditional use.^7,10 Applies to: Ville-Marie

Other boroughs allow commercial tourist homes only on named strips

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal allows them where the main entrance faces part of Boulevard Saint-Laurent or Rue Saint-Denis; Le Sud-Ouest on Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Rue Peel, Rue Wellington and Rue du Square-Gallery, with homes at least 150 metres apart; Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce on Boulevard Décarie, Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges and other listed streets; Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension on Rue Saint-Hubert and Rue Jean-Talon Est; and L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève on parts of Rue Bord-du-lac, Rue Monk and Rue Carré Grilli.⁷ Applies to: Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Le Sud-Ouest, Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève

Rentals allowed only from 10 June to 10 September

A principal residence can be rented to tourists only between 10 June and 10 September inclusive each year. Renting it outside that period is prohibited.^3,5,9 In force since June 10, 2025

Offering a night outside the season is also an offence

A principal-residence host may not offer a unit for rent for nights outside 10 June to 10 September, so availability outside the season cannot be advertised.³

One group per reservation, no meals

A host must rent to one person or one group under a single reservation and cannot serve meals.^3,6,12

Liability insurance of $2 million per claim

Every operator must hold civil liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per claim covering bodily injury and property damage. Airbnb states that its Host Liability Insurance does not satisfy this requirement.^2,29

Stays of more than 31 days are residential rentals

Rentals of more than 31 days are treated as residential rentals, not short-term tourist accommodation, and fall under the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) instead of the City's permit.^3,5,8

One City squad enforces the by-law in all 19 boroughs

Since 10 June 2025 the inspection squad of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, in place since 2023 to identify illegal tourist rentals, covers all 19 boroughs under a delegation of power.⁹ In force since June 10, 2025

The executive committee can change the season and permit rules by order

The City's executive committee may, by order and without amending the by-law, change the permitted rental period, the definitions, the exempt establishments, the permit documents and the permit's validity.³

Neighbours can report illegal rentals and nuisances through 311

Anyone can report a principal residence rented outside the season, a commercial rental outside the permitted areas, or a rental without a permit, as well as noise, garbage or cleanliness problems, by calling 311 or using the City's form.⁸

Median nightly rate, booked nights

US$115

Taxes on that night (18.5%)

US$21

Guest pays, before Airbnb and cleaning fees

US$136

What the host still handles

• Tax on lodging: not required if you rent only through a platform such as Airbnb that is registered for it and receives all the money; required for direct bookings or when the platform does not receive all amounts.
• GST and QST: only once taxable sales pass the $30,000 small supplier limit in a quarter or the four previous quarters; Airbnb collects them for hosts who are not registered.
• The City host permit and the CITQ registration.^{19,21,22,24,27,30}

• Operating without registration: a fine of $2,500 to $25,000 for an individual and $5,000 to $50,000 in all other cases, doubled for a second offence and tripled after.^1,18
• Montreal by-law 25-007: an individual is fined $1,000 for a first offence and $2,000 for any repeat offence; a company $2,000 for a first offence and $4,000 for a repeat.³
• Offences under the Montreal by-law include operating without a valid host permit, renting a unit or offering a night outside 10 June to 10 September, making a false statement to obtain a permit, and obstructing an inspector.³
• The City's 2 June 2025 release described its fines as $1,000 a day for individuals and $2,000 a day for companies on a first offence.¹²
• Operating after registration was refused, suspended or cancelled: $5,000 to $50,000 for an individual and $10,000 to $100,000 in all other cases.^1,18
• A false, inaccurate, expired or suspended registration number in a listing or advertisement: $2,500 to $25,000 for an individual and $5,000 to $50,000 otherwise.^1,18
• Missing liability insurance, a number missing from advertising, an unposted certificate or a certificate not given to the platform: $1,000 to $10,000 for an individual and $2,000 to $20,000 otherwise.^1,2,18
• Platforms that publish an offer without a registration number, or enable a booking at an unregistered establishment: $5,000 to $50,000 for an individual and $10,000 to $100,000 otherwise.^1,18

1. January 2027 Upcoming
   Montreal host permit applications reopen

   The City's online application period has ended. Hosts can apply for a principal-residence host permit again in early 2027, ahead of the 10 June to 10 September season.⁶

2. September 1, 2026
   Two proofs of principal residence and yearly consent

   Principal-residence applicants must present two proofs of residence at registration and renewal, and the owner's or co-owners' consent must be supplied at every annual renewal.^15,16,17

3. April 9, 2026
   Number on social media and certificate at the main entrance

   The CITQ registration number must also appear on social media, and the certificate is displayed in view of guests at the main entrance of the establishment.¹⁷

4. April 9, 2026
   City announces it will replace the summer season with a 90-day cap

   The Martinez Ferrada administration said it kept the season for 2026 and plans by-law changes for the fall: a ban on commercial operations, rentals of a single principal residence for at most 90 days a year, more inspectors, a platform to track rental days and new penalties. As of 17 October 2026 the City's by-law register lists only one amendment to by-law 25-007 (25-007-1, September 2025), and the host-permit pages still show the 10 June to 10 September season.^4,6,31,32

5. January 1, 2026
   CITQ registration fees indexed

   Registration and renewal fees rose to $54 for a principal residence establishment and $156 for a general establishment.^2,14

6. September 22, 2025
   By-law 25-007 amended

   Council adopted amending by-law 25-007-1 on 22 September 2025, which changed articles 3, 15 and 16. The consolidated by-law now makes it an offence to offer a night for rent outside the season and sets fines of $1,000 and $2,000 for individuals and $2,000 and $4,000 for companies.^3,4

7. June 10, 2025
   Season and host permit take effect

   Article 3 of by-law 25-007 took effect: principal-residence rentals are limited to 10 June to 10 September, hosts need an annual City permit, and one inspection squad covers all 19 boroughs.^3,9,12

8. March 17, 2025
   City council adopts the tourist accommodation by-law

   Council adopted by-law 25-007 on tourist accommodation establishments at its sitting of 17 March 2025; it came into force on 25 March 2025, with the season clause taking effect on 10 June 2025.^3,4,13

9. January 30, 2025
   City announces the summer-only rule

   The City announced a by-law allowing short-term rental of principal residences from 10 June to 10 September, citing about 4,000 full-time short-term units of which more than half were illegal.¹¹

10. September 1, 2023
    Platform duties and number display strengthened

    Platforms must show and verify the registration number and may not enable bookings at unregistered establishments, with fines of $5,000 to $100,000.^1,17

Estimate what a Montreal home could earn

1. 1. Tourist Accommodation Act (H-1.01) · Légis Québec
2. 2. Tourist Accommodation Regulation (H-1.01, r. 1) · Légis Québec
3. 3. Règlement concernant les établissements d'hébergement touristique (25-007), administrative codification to 30 September 2025 (as amended by 25-007-1) · Ville de Montréal
4. 4. Règlement concernant les établissements d'hébergement touristique (25-007): register entry and list of amending by-laws · Ville de Montréal
5. 5. Short-term tourist accommodation · Ville de Montréal
6. 6. Rent your principal residence to tourists · Ville de Montréal
7. 7. Operate a commercial tourist home · Ville de Montréal
8. 8. Report a problem concerning a tourist accommodation · Ville de Montréal
9. 9. Réglementation sur l'hébergement touristique de courte durée · Ville de Montréal
10. 10. Hébergements touristiques dans Ville-Marie · Ville de Montréal
11. 11. Crise du logement - La Ville de Montréal encadre plus sévèrement les locations de logements à court terme afin de libérer des unités pour les locataires montréalais (30 January 2025) · Ville de Montréal (Canada NewsWire)
12. 12. Location à court terme d'une résidence principale : avez-vous votre permis ? (2 June 2025) · Ville de Montréal (Canada NewsWire)
13. 13. Avis public: second projet de règlement 01-274-68 (Ahuntsic-Cartierville), referring to by-law 25-007 · Ville de Montréal
14. 14. CITQ - Registration Fees Payable · Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec
15. 15. CITQ - Frequently Asked Question · Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec
16. 16. CITQ - Opening a file and getting a registration number · Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec
17. 17. Modifications au Règlement sur l'hébergement touristique pour favoriser une plus grande conformité · Gouvernement du Québec
18. 18. Infractions et amendes · Gouvernement du Québec
19. 19. Calculating and Collecting the Tax on Lodging · Revenu Québec
20. 20. Québec Tourism Regions Where the Tax on Lodging Applies · Revenu Québec
21. 21. Establishments Subject to the Tax on Lodging · Revenu Québec
22. 22. Step 2 - Register for the Tax on Lodging - Short-Term Accommodations · Revenu Québec
23. 23. Calculating the Taxes (GST and QST) · Revenu Québec
24. 24. Small Suppliers · Revenu Québec
25. 25. Activités d'inspection dans le secteur de l'hébergement touristique · Revenu Québec
26. 26. GST/HST for digital-economy businesses: Overview · Canada Revenue Agency
27. 27. Billing the 3.5% Tax on Lodging · Revenu Québec
28. 28. Montréal - Airbnb Help Centre · Airbnb Help Centre
29. 29. Quebec: laws and regulations for hosts · Airbnb Help Centre
30. 30. Tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Canada · Airbnb Help Centre
31. 31. Montreal lifting short-term rental ban, but not in time for Grand Prix · Montreal Gazette
32. 32. Louer son logement sur Airbnb ne sera pas possible pour la F1 · La Presse