Can I rent out my secondary suite on Airbnb in Vancouver?

Short-term rental of secondary suites is heavily restricted in Vancouver. As of 2018, Vancouver only allows short-term rentals (under 30 days) in your principal residence, and secondary suites must be rented long-term (30+ days) to help preserve rental housing stock.

Vancouver's Short-Term Rental Rules

Vancouver's short-term rental bylaws are among the strictest in Canada. You can only operate an Airbnb or similar platform if you're renting out your principal residence — meaning the home where you actually live. This can include a room in your home or your entire home while you're away, but it cannot be a separate secondary suite that you don't occupy.

Secondary suites must be rented long-term (minimum 30-day stays) under Vancouver's bylaws. This applies whether your suite is legal or not. The city implemented these rules specifically to prevent the conversion of long-term rental housing into short-term tourist accommodations, as Vancouver faces a severe rental housing shortage.

To operate any short-term rental legally in Vancouver, you need a short-term rental business licence from the city (currently $54 annually), and you must register with the province. The penalties for operating without proper licensing can be significant — up to $1,000 per day for individuals.

Enforcement and Penalties

Vancouver actively enforces these rules through complaint-driven investigations and monitoring of platforms like Airbnb. The city has removed thousands of illegal listings since the bylaw took effect. Penalties include fines up to $1,000 per day for unlicensed operations, and repeat offenders can face prosecution.

If you're caught operating an illegal short-term rental in your secondary suite, you could face fines, forced closure, and potential issues with your home insurance coverage. Many insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for commercial activities like short-term rentals.

What You Can Do Instead

Consider renting your secondary suite as a long-term rental (30+ day minimum stays). Vancouver's rental market is extremely tight, with vacancy rates typically under 2%, so you'll likely have no trouble finding tenants. Long-term rentals also provide more stable income and fewer management headaches than short-term rentals.

If you're interested in occasional short-term rental income, you could rent out a room in your principal residence (the part of the home where you actually live) on platforms like Airbnb, provided you obtain the proper business licence.

For the most current regulations and licensing requirements, check vancouver.ca/doing-business/short-term-rentals or call 311. Rules can change, and other Metro Vancouver municipalities have their own distinct short-term rental bylaws.