British Columbia enforces short-term rental registry for May

Canada: The government of British Columbia has announced the launch of a provincial short-term rental registry, requiring all hosts to register their properties by 1 May 2025. 

The new registry aims to regulate the short-term rental market and address housing shortages in the province. Hosts must display a valid provincial registration number on their listings by the deadline. Non-compliant listings will be removed from platforms starting June 1, 2025, with future bookings canceled from that date.

Registration fees are set at $100 annually for rentals where the host resides on-site, such as renting out a room or the entire home while temporarily away. For properties where the host does not live on-site, including secondary suites or accessory dwelling units, the fee is $450 per year. Strata hotels must pay an annual fee of $600. 

The registry is part of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, which introduces a principal residence requirement in certain communities. This requirement limits short-term rentals to the host’s principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. The regulation applies to communities with populations of 10,000 or more, as well as smaller neighbouring communities that opt in.

Hosts can complete the registration process online through the provincial government’s website. Failure to comply with the new regulations may result in penalties, including the removal of listings and cancellation of bookings.