Provincial registry launched for short term rentals in B.C.

Jan 20, 2025 | 3:07 PM Liam Verster

Short term rental operators in British Columbia must register their properties.

The B.C. Government launched a registry portal for all short term rentals (STRs) in the province Monday, Jan. 20, with the goal of further cracking down on speculators and freeing housing for people.

“We are taking action to help more people find a home in the communities they love by reining in speculators who are operating illegally,” Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.

“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.”

Anyone operating an STR in B.C. through AirBnb, Vrbo, or other platforms, must register their properties through the online portal.

To register, hosts will need to complete an online application, and pay a fee, depending on the type of listing.

$100 per year for an STR in which the host lives
$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 strate hotel

The provincial program will see hosts receive a 50 per cent decreases on fees if they register by Feb. 28, 2025, or a 25 per cent discount if they register by March 31, 2025.

The deadline to register is May 31, 2025, and anyone not registered will not be legally allowed to list their properties, and, if they do, the owners may be subject to fines.

Fees collected through the registry will be used to enforce B.C.’s rules and regulations regarding STRs and speculators.

The management STRs are part of the larger provincial efforts to bring more housing options to British Columbians.

The province said that, within the first seven months of launching its regulations surrounding STRs, one in 10 were taken off the market and either rented out or sold.

It was also noted that a a researcher at McGill University found that efforts to reign in STRs in B.C. led to rental rates declining by an average of 5.7 per cent.