More topics

Information for short-term rental platforms

Last updated on June 12, 2024

There are new requirements for short-term rental platforms to operate in B.C. Learn about your responsibilities as a platform operating in B.C. on this page. 

On this page:

Platform requirements 

Effective May 1st, short-term rental platforms will be required to:

  • Identify a platform representative
  • Include a field for business licence numbers on all listings
  • Remove non-compliant listings at the request of local governments
  • Remove non-compliant listings when required under a provincial compliance order

Also effective May 1, 2024, major platforms with 1,000 or more listings offered in B.C. will be required to disclose certain short-term rental information to the Province.

By late 2024 or early 2025, the Province expects that short-term rental platforms will be required to:

  • Register in the provincial registry
  • Include a field for provincial registration numbers on all short-term rental listings
  • Validate registration numbers

Understanding provincial requirements is the responsibility of the platforms. Not following the rules may result in penalties, such as:

  • Administrative monetary penalties
  • Compliance orders, which can be filed in court

What is a platform?

Short-term rental platforms facilitate promotion and transactions for reservations and payments related to short-term rental accommodation services in B.C.

While all platforms in B.C. need to follow the rules, there are specific responsibilities for major platforms, which are defined as platforms with 1,000 or more listings offered in B.C.

Some small operators of short-term rentals may be both a host and platform, such as certain strata hotels or motels, if they are both the supplier host and also manage the promotions, reservations and payments for their listings. In this case, they will need to follow the rules for both hosts and platforms. For a strata hotel or motel, their platform is the dedicated online booking system they use for reservations at their specific property.

Platform representative

Short-term rental platforms must identify a platform representative to communicate with the Province by May 15, 2024. This person will be responsible for representing the platform regarding regulatory requirements for platforms.

Platforms can contact STRdata@gov.bc.ca for more information.

Display of business licence

As of May 1, 2024, 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. It is the host’s responsibility to determine whether a local government business licence is required when they post their listing on a short-term rental platform.

Business licence field

Platforms must enable an entry field for business licence numbers on all short-term rental listings. 

Removal of listings

Platforms must cease providing platform services in respect of a listing (for example, remove the listing and cancel bookings associated with the listing) that do not comply with a business licence requirement at the request of a local government. All listing removal requests will be made to the platform through the STR Data Portal. 

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. 
  • A local government can then issue a request 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. 

Reporting to the Province

Platforms must confirm a listing has been removed in a monthly report to the Minister of Housing: 

  • Platforms with 1000 or more listings in B.C. must submit a report each month
  • Platforms with fewer than 1000 listings will be required to submit a report for months when a listing removal was requested

Data sharing

Beginning in May 2024, short-term rental platforms with 1,000 or more listings in B.C. will be required to share information about short-term rental listings directly with the Province on a monthly basis. Platforms with fewer than 1,000 listings will be required to share the same information by late 2024. 

Data sharing will occur through a STR Data Portal. Information provided to the Province will be shared with local governments for enforcement of their own short-term rental bylaws. This information will be kept confidential and not disclosed to the public. Information includes:

  • host name, address, and contact information 

  • business licence numbers 

  • listing details 

  • booking history 

Provincial registry

By early 2025, the Province expects to establish a short-term rental registry. All short-term rental hosts and platforms will be required to register.

Detailed information on the registration process will be available closer to the launch of the registry.

Validation of registration numbers

Once the registry is established, platforms will be required to:

  • enable an entry field for the provincial registration number on short-term rental listings
  • validate the registration number on short-term rental listings against the Province’s registry data

Helpful links

Subscribe 

Subscribe for emailed updates to B.C.'s Short-term Rental Accommodations Act, regulations and related information. 

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. 

Please contact ServiceBC if you have questions about B.C.'s new short-term rental legislation.

  • 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.