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Information for local governments

Last updated on January 28, 2025

Find local government resources for the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act on this page.

On this page: 

Provincial registration and local government bylaws

By May 1, 2025, all short-term rental hosts in B.C. are required to register with the provincial short-term rental registry. Host registration requires compliance with local short-term rental bylaws. Applicants are required to provide a valid business licence to register.

Local governments can notify the Registrar when a short-term rental does not comply with local government short-term rental bylaws to request a review of their registration.

Display of business licence

Short-term rental hosts must display a valid business licence number on their listing in areas where a business licence is required by the local government.

Platform accountability

Local governments can request that a platform cease providing platform services in respect of a listing (for example, remove the listing and cancel bookings associated with the listing) for not following local business licence requirements. 

Local governments are expected to follow their own compliance processes first, ensuring procedural fairness, before requesting the removal of a listing from a platform.  

The steps for requesting a listing to be removed are: 

  • Local governments must send a notice of non-compliance with a business licence requirement to hosts and platforms prior to requesting the platform remove a listing 
  • Hosts may contact their local government for more information about a notice of non-compliance or to take steps to come into compliance with a local government business licence requirement 
  • If a host remains in non-compliance, a local government can then issue a request through the STR Data Portal to the platform to cease providing platform services (for example, remove the listing and cancel all bookings) within a period of 5 to 90 days after the notice is delivered 
  • Platforms will have five days from receiving the request to cease providing platform services 

​The director of the provincial compliance and enforcement unit may also issue compliance orders for the removal of listings that do not comply with provincial requirements.

Resources for local governments

Policy guidance for local governments (December 2023)

Description: This policy guide for local governments was created in December 2023 to aid in interpretation of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. Note: This guidance does not include changes made in regulation after October 2023.

Slides from STRAA presentation for local governments (May 1, 2024)  

Description: This slide deck provides an overview of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and subsequent regulations, with a particular focus on key considerations and implications for local governments. 

Webinar recording for local governments (January 31, 2024)

Description: This presentation provides an overview of the objectives and execution of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, with a particular focus on key considerations and implications for local governments.

 

Webinar recording for local governments (January 31, 2024)

Local Government FAQs

Description: This document provides answers to questions posed by local governments following a May 2024 webinar for local governments on the implementation of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and regulations.

STR Data Portal Guidance for Local Governments

Description: This webpage provides information for local governments about the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs' Short-term Rental (STR) Data Portal, including accessing STR listing data and using the notice and takedown process under s. 18 of the Short-term Rental Accommodations Act and ss. 15-16 of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Regulation.

 

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Disclaimer

The information on this webpage about the Province of British Columbia’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and regulations is provided for the user’s convenience as a basic starting point. It is not a substitute for getting legal advice or other professional advice. If there is a conflict between the information on this webpage and the legislation or regulations, the legislation and regulations prevail. The interpretation of legislation is also affected by court decisions. This information may be subject to change, including changes due to the legislative process.

If you have questions about B.C.'s short-term rental legislation, please contact the ServiceBC call centre at 1-833-828-2240 or email STRregistry@gov.bc.ca. 

  • ServiceBC is open Mon to Fri from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm with help available on the phone, toll free, in 140 languages and for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired.