Do you need a licence or registration to run a short-term rental in Vancouver?

Yes, a licence or registration is recorded as required to run a short-term rental in Vancouver (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). See the details on this page for the process and any conditions. Verify against the official sources listed on this page before relying on it for an operational decision.

What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Vancouver?

Short-term rentals in Vancouver are recorded as subject to: BC Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on accommodation (rate: 8%; basis: % of all guest-paid accommodation fees (including cleaning fees, booking fees, resort fees, pet fees, extra linen, credit card fees)); Vancouver Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) (rate: 3%; basis: % of accommodation cost; applies to all taxable accommodation in the City of Vancouver); Vancouver Major Events MRDT (rate: 2.5%; basis: % of accommodation cost; in effect February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2030 (Designated Major Event Accommodation Area Tax Regulation)); Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) (rate: 5%; basis: % applied on accommodation cost plus PST, MRDT, and Major Events MRDT amounts combined (GST is assessed on the grossed-up amount because combined provincial taxes in Vancouver exceed 12%, per BC PST Notice 2023-001)) (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). Confirm the current rates with the official source before pricing or filing.

Canada · British Columbia

Short-term rental rules in Vancouver

Last updated Jun 25, 2026 Verified Jun 25, 2026

Legal regime

Dual-layer framework: (1) BC Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (STRAA, SBC 2023) restricts STR to the host's principal residence — effective May 1, 2024 in communities of 10,000+ including Vancouver — and mandates provincial registration since May 1, 2025; hosts may also rent one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same principal-residence property. (2) City of Vancouver business license required by municipal bylaw; license number must be displayed on all listings. No maximum nights per year at the provincial level.

Key parameters

License required: Yes
Max nights/year: No cap specified

License process

Two-layer licensing required. (1) BC Provincial Registration (mandatory since May 1, 2025): apply via BC Registries host portal at host.shorttermrental.registry.gov.bc.ca. Annual fee: CAD $101.50 where host lives (principal residence or rooms within it); CAD $451.50 for secondary suite, accessory dwelling unit, or secondary property. Required documents: BC government photo ID plus two proof-of-principal-residence documents (e.g., property tax notice, ICBC insurance, land title certificate, home insurance summary). Renewal window opens 40 days before expiry; fee is non-refundable if application denied. (2) City of Vancouver Business License: obtain from vancouver.ca before listing; specific municipal fee amount could not be confirmed from city servers during this verification (HTTP 403 anti-bot).

Applicable taxes

BC Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on accommodation

Rate: 8% · Basis: % of all guest-paid accommodation fees (including cleaning fees, booking fees, resort fees, pet fees, extra linen, credit card fees)
Vancouver Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT)

Rate: 3% · Basis: % of accommodation cost; applies to all taxable accommodation in the City of Vancouver
Vancouver Major Events MRDT

Rate: 2.5% · Basis: % of accommodation cost; in effect February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2030 (Designated Major Event Accommodation Area Tax Regulation)
Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Rate: 5% · Basis: % applied on accommodation cost plus PST, MRDT, and Major Events MRDT amounts combined (GST is assessed on the grossed-up amount because combined provincial taxes in Vancouver exceed 12%, per BC PST Notice 2023-001)

Recent changes

2023-02-01

Vancouver Major Events MRDT (2.5%) came into effect as an additional accommodation tax applicable through January 31, 2030 under the Designated Major Event Accommodation Area Tax Regulation.

Source ↗
2024-05-01

BC STRAA principal residence requirement came into force: STR hosts in communities of 10,000+ (including Vancouver) may only rent their principal residence or one secondary suite/ADU on the same property. Whole-home STR of non-principal-residence properties became non-compliant.

Source ↗
2025-05-01

Mandatory BC provincial STR registration took effect for all hosts and platforms. Hosts must complete registration via the BC Registries host portal before listing (CAD $101.50/year for principal residence; CAD $451.50/year for secondary units). Registration number must be displayed on all listings and renews annually.

Source ↗

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence or registration to run a short-term rental in Vancouver?: Yes, a licence or registration is recorded as required to run a short-term rental in Vancouver (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). See the details on this page for the process and any conditions. Verify against the official sources listed on this page before relying on it for an operational decision.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Vancouver?: Short-term rentals in Vancouver are recorded as subject to: BC Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on accommodation (rate: 8%; basis: % of all guest-paid accommodation fees (including cleaning fees, booking fees, resort fees, pet fees, extra linen, credit card fees)); Vancouver Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) (rate: 3%; basis: % of accommodation cost; applies to all taxable accommodation in the City of Vancouver); Vancouver Major Events MRDT (rate: 2.5%; basis: % of accommodation cost; in effect February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2030 (Designated Major Event Accommodation Area Tax Regulation)); Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) (rate: 5%; basis: % applied on accommodation cost plus PST, MRDT, and Major Events MRDT amounts combined (GST is assessed on the grossed-up amount because combined provincial taxes in Vancouver exceed 12%, per BC PST Notice 2023-001)) (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). Confirm the current rates with the official source before pricing or filing.