- Where the principal residence requirement applies, you can short-term rent your own home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property, and each rental unit needs its own registration number.
- Provincial registration costs $100 or $450 a year depending on the type of rental, plus a $1.50 service fee, and local bylaws and business licence rules still apply.
- The community list changes, so check whether your community is covered, and confirm your suite is allowed by local zoning and properly permitted.
Basement suites, garden suites and laneway homes are popular with owners who want extra income. Some owners wonder whether they can list one on Airbnb or a similar platform instead of using it for a long-term tenant.
In British Columbia the answer depends on where your property is, which unit you are renting, how long guests stay, and what your local government allows. This article walks through the provincial rules and the points where local rules and land restrictions come in.
This article covers the law of British Columbia.
What the principal residence requirement allows
Where the principal residence requirement applies, a host may short-term rent their principal residence, meaning their usual day-to-day home, plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. Each rental unit needs its own provincial registration number.
Provincial registration applies to rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, even if no local business licence is needed. The Act does not cover rentals longer than 90 days per booking.
In practice, if you have a main house, a basement suite and a laneway home, the rule does not let you list all three. You would be limited to your own home and one of the other units.
Where the rule applies and where it does not
The requirement applies in municipalities with 10,000 or more residents, plus nearby smaller communities listed by the Province, and in communities that opt in. The community list applies as of June 1, 2026.
Opt-in requests are due February 28 and take effect November 1. Opt-out requests are due February 28 and take effect June 1, and they require a vacancy rate of 3% or more for two consecutive years.
The requirement does not apply in these places:
- Municipalities under 10,000 that are not within 15 km of a larger listed municipality.
- Mountain resorts and listed ski resort areas, and Resort Municipality Initiative communities.
- Most regional district electoral areas.
- Most Islands Trust areas, except Salt Spring and Gabriola.
- Class 9 farm land. ALR designation alone does not qualify, and registration is still required for Class 9 farm land.
Some accommodation types are also exempt from registration and the principal residence requirement, such as time shares, home exchanges, student or employee housing and strata guest suites.
Registration, fees and business licences
Registration fees are annual. The two levels that matter most to suite and laneway owners are shown below, and fees are not refunded if your application is denied.
| Type of rental | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Host lives there: whole home while away, or rooms in own home | $100 plus $1.50 service fee |
| Secondary suite, accessory dwelling unit, secondary property or strata hotel unit on a third-party platform | $450 plus $1.50 service fee |
You must put the registration number, and the business licence number where one is required, on every listing.
If your local government requires a business licence for short-term rentals, you must upload a valid copy with your registration application or renewal. Compliance with local bylaws is a condition of registration. Platforms must remove listings that do not meet the local business licence requirement when the local government asks.
Agricultural Land Reserve properties
If your property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), extra limits apply. Short-term rental of a whole house in the ALR is not permitted by regulation without an application. Bed-and-breakfast use in a principal residence is allowed without an application when limited to four bedrooms.
A secondary suite in the ALR is allowed only inside the principal residence, and local government bylaws must permit it and may restrict or prohibit it. Housing rules in the ALR can change, so confirm the current rules with the Agricultural Land Commission.
Enforcement and what to do next
The Province's Compliance and Enforcement Unit can issue compliance orders, administrative penalties and seek injunctions. A compliance order is enforceable like a court order once filed in B.C. Supreme Court. A penalty review may be requested within 30 days of the notice, on limited grounds.
Local governments enforce their own rules. Regional district bylaw fine maximums rose from $2,000 to $50,000, and municipal ticket maximums rose from $1,000 to $3,000 per infraction per day.
Before you list a suite or laneway home, work through this list:
- Check whether your community is on the current principal residence list, and remember the list changes each year.
- Confirm with your local government that the suite or laneway home is allowed under local zoning, and that building and other required permits are in place.
- Check whether a local business licence is needed for short-term rentals.
- Confirm whether your property is in the ALR or is Class 9 farm land.
- Register each rental unit and show the numbers on every listing.
If your situation involves a strata, an ALR parcel or a unit that was built without permits, speak with a lawyer before listing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I list both my basement suite and my laneway home?
Where the principal residence requirement applies, you can rent your principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. That means listing a basement suite and a laneway home together would go beyond the rule. Each unit you do rent needs its own registration number.
Do I need to register if guests stay more than 90 days?
Provincial registration applies to rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days. The Act does not cover rentals longer than 90 days per booking. Local rules may still matter, so check with your local government.
How much does registration cost for a suite or laneway home?
For a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on a third-party platform, the annual fee is $450 plus a $1.50 service fee. The fee is $100 plus $1.50 where the host lives in the home. Fees are not refunded if you are denied.
Does the rule apply if I live in a small town or rural area?
It may not. The requirement does not apply in municipalities under 10,000 that are not within 15 km of a larger listed municipality, and it does not apply in most regional district electoral areas. Communities can opt in, and registration may still be required, so confirm with the Province and your local government.
Sources
- Province of BC – Building or renovation permits — www2.gov.bc.ca
- Agricultural Land Commission – Housing in the ALR — alc.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – Short-term rental principal residence requirement — www2.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – Register as a host — www2.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – BC's short-term rental legislation — www2.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – Short-term rental compliance and enforcement — www2.gov.bc.ca
- Agricultural Land Commission – Permitted Uses — alc.gov.bc.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
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