The Government of BC recently announced that anyone operating a short-term rental in B.C. and listing on platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, and others will be required to register with the Province, including hosts operating outside areas with the principal-residence requirement. Hosts will receive a provincial registration number that must be displayed on all online listings in B.C., effective May 1, 2025. Hosts who do not comply and who do not have a provincial registration number will have their listings taken down as of June 1, 2025.
“The launch of the registry is the next step to provide more long-term homes for people, giving hosts who are playing by the rules the ability to continue to legally operate and welcome guests while further cracking down on speculators who are breaking the rules," said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.
Registration fees are:
- $100 per year for an STR in which the host lives, such as a whole home the host rents out while away or a bedroom within it.
- $450 per year if the host does not live in the STR, such as a secondary suite, cottage or laneway home.
- $600 per year for an entire strata hotel.
Hosts will receive a 50% discount on fees if they register by Feb. 28, 2025, or a 25% discount if they register by March 31, 2025. Revenue from the program will support STR enforcement and compliance in communities throughout B.C.
“We're pleased to see the launch of the new short-term registry, which is something we advocated for and supported as part of the regulations," says Tourism Industry Association of BC CEO, Walt Judas. "The suite of STR tools introduced by the Province to ensure there are enough homes for people who live and work in B.C., as well as plenty of accommodations for those who visit communities in every region, strikes the right balance.”
To register, hosts need to complete an online application available here: https://gov.bc.ca/strregistry
For more details, visit the Government of BC website.