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New provincial short-term rental regulations

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed April 15, 2024 10:00 AM

Summary

The provincial government has passed the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act to restrict short-term rentals (STRs) and provide stronger tools for municipalities to return more housing units to the long-term rental market. The following changes will take place over the next year:

May 1, 2024

  • Short-term rentals will only be permitted in a primary residence.
  • Host will be required to display a valid City of Nanaimo business licence on their hosting page. This applies to all advertising platforms (AirBnB, VRBO, Booking.com, etc.).

Summer 2024

  • Advertising platforms will be required to share short term rental host data with municipalities and will be required to remove listings where a valid business licence number is not displayed.
  • The Province will provide enforcement and compliance support to municipalities if advertising platforms fail to remove non-compliant host listings.

Late 2024/Early 2025

  • The Province will create a short-term rental registry. All short-term rental operators will be required to register, provide proof of primary residency and display registration number (in addition to the business licence number) in platform advertising.
  • Advertising platforms will be required to remove any host listing that does not display a provincial registration number and a business licence number.

For more information visit the City’s Short-Term Rental webpage, or the Province’s Short-Term Rentals webpage.

Link to Strategic Plan: N/A

Key Points

  • Earlier this year, the provincial government introduced new legislation that further regulates the operation of short-term rentals in B.C. effective May 1, 2024.
  • Throughout 2024 and into early 2025, the provincial government will implement measures to enhance regulation and enforcement, including mandatory registration for all short-term rental operators, sharing host data with municipalities, and requiring advertising platforms to remove listings without valid business license or registration numbers.

Quotes

"The new provincial regulations on short-term rentals will ensure a fair and sustainable housing market for our community, while also meeting long-term housing demands. These measures will help preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods and support affordable housing initiatives for residents."

Leonard Krog
Mayor
City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

  • The City of Nanaimo defines a short-term rental as the temporary rental (less than 30 consecutive days) of a residence, a portion of the residence (such as a room), a secondary suite or a carriage house and may or may not include breakfast.

Videos

Short Term Rental Business Licences
Short Term Rental Business Licences
Did you know that if you operate a short term rental in Nanaimo, you need a business licence?
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