Short-term rentals

What a short-term rental licence costs

The charges that apply in Vancouver before a single night is booked. The municipal licence and the provincial registration are separate processes with separate fees, and both are required.

Vancouver licences, fees and taxes

City of Vancouver STR licence

$1,108/yr

The annual business licence to operate a short-term rental, renewed each year and tied to the specific unit.

City application fee

$77

One-time charge when applying for a new licence, on top of the annual licence fee.

BC registration — principal residence

$100/yr

Provincial registration where the property is your principal residence, plus a $1.50 service fee. Separate from and in addition to the City licence.

BC registration — non-principal residence

$450/yr

Provincial registration for a property you do not live in, plus a $1.50 service fee. This is the rate that applies to most of the buildings in the directory, and it is more than four times the principal-residence rate.

These are the Vancouver figures. Every municipality sets its own licence fee, and several do not publish a short-term rental rate separately from their general business licence schedule — the rules by city page lists what each one charges. Provincial registration applies on top wherever you are.