Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

Vancouver and Toronto Regulate Short-Term Rentals

by Richard D'Ambrosio  January 19, 2018
Vancouver and Toronto Regulate Short-Term Rentals

Photo: Kieve.Victor/Shutterstock.com

Canadian cities are cracking down on short-term rentals like Airbnb, approving new regulations that go into effect this year.

On Apr. 1, Vancouver will become the first major Canadian city to regulate short-term rentals like Airbnb, including banning rentals of entire apartments or houses if an owner does not live there. Toronto will follow on July 1, when rules it approved in December go into effect.

Major Canadian urban centers have been struggling with providing affordable housing for their residents and many housing advocates point to short-term rentals as a major contributor, as landlords and home owners attempt to profit from tourists and other guests from outside their cities.

Vancouver’s legislation, passed on Nov. 14, 2017, restricts short-term rentals of suites that are not principal residences. As other cities are doing, in Vancouver, hosts are required to obtain an annual business license and display their license number on online listings. The penalty is a $1,000 fine for each violation.

Additionally, regulations ban short-term rentals of entire apartments or houses if the person does not live there. It also bans basement apartments but allow owners to rent out parts of their house or apartment, or rent out the whole unit if they are away on vacation. The city estimates about 1,000 units will return to the long-term market. A study from a Canadian university estimated there are 24,000 listings in Vancouver on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

In an opinion piece in the Vancouver Sun, Airbnb Canada public-policy manager, Alex Dagg, said that “while the law isn’t perfect, it represents a historic moment for the home-sharing community of Canada and is a win for Vancouver, our hosts and the millions who travel to this city each year.

According to news reports, other communities in British Columbia are considering similar rules.

In Toronto, the city council in December approved regulations allowing the rental of a principal residence only, capped at fewer than 28 days. Additionally, listings for what are termed “secondary suites” (e.g. units with their own entrance, kitchen and bathroom) are banned for short-term rental, unless there is a tenant listing the unit and it is the tenant’s primary residence.

Toronto hosts also must register with the city. Entire home rentals will be capped at 180 days a year.

Approximately 11,000 Airbnbs were rented out in Toronto in 2016, according to the company’s statements, with about 75 percent of those units being part of a host’s principal residence. City housing advocates claim that less than 1 percent of downtown units are vacant for residents.

  
  
Related Articles
Germain Hôtels ouvrira un hôtel à Vancouver
Nobu Hotel Toronto Promises City’s Most Private Retreat
Canada Is “Cracking Down” on Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals
Greece Cracks Down on Airbnbs and Short Term Rentals in Athens  
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto: Club Level Room, Spa, Dining, and Experiences
Airbnb to Buy HotelTonight, Pushing Deeper into the Hotel Industry
Toronto Welcomes Kimpton Saint George
Marriott Set to Challenge Airbnb in Home Rental Market
5 Toronto Hotels Travel Advisors Should Know About
Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver Closes for Renovations

MOST VIEWED

  1. Power Outage in Spain and Portugal Causes Major Travel Disruptions, Including at Madrid Airport
  2. 5 Things I Liked About Norwegian Aqua – and 4 I’m Not Sold On
  3. Testing the Waters with Dori: Do Travel Advisors Actually Dislike Viking?
  4. Beaches Ocho Rios Resort to Close Doors in May 2025
  5. How Pope Francis’ Funeral Will Impact Travel to Rome and Vatican City
  6. Using a Phone on a Cruise Ship Will Cost Thousands: Urban Myth or Reality?


  1. TTC Tour Week Returns with 9 FAM Trips Scheduled for November
  2. Booking on Grandma’s Budget: How Grandparents Are Driving Multi-Gen and Skip-Gen Travel
  3. Travel Advisor Appreciation Month Offers Not to Be Missed
  4. Sandals Has ‘Strong Interest’ in Bringing Beaches to St. Vincent & the Grena
  5. The Best Hotels to Book in Portugal & Spain: Roundup From an ALGV FAM 
  6. Vanessa McGovern Lands at Global Travel Collection
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth luxury coverage, analysis of luxury news, luxury trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Hotel and Resort News and Notes for April 2025
Hotel and Resort News and Notes for April 2025

Spa treatments, food and beverage experiences, and more – here’s what’s new in the hotel scene this month.

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts to Make Texas Debut
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts to Make Texas Debut

The Hilton luxury brand has signed on Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country.

The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad Appoints New Sales and Marketing Director
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad Appoints New Sales and Marketing Director

Rosy Merlino is The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad’s new director of sales and marketing.

Marriott Is Bringing a JW Marriott All-Inclusive Resort to Costa Rica
Marriott Is Bringing a JW Marriott All-Inclusive Resort to Costa Rica

JW Marriott Resort Costa Rica will launch as the brand’s first all-inclusive in the country.

What and How to Order at a Luxury Hotel Bar
What and How to Order at a Luxury Hotel Bar

For advisors new to the luxury space, knowing what to order at a high-end bar can be an unexpected but valuable skill.

Floating Bungalows Offer Private Luxury in the Florida Keys
Floating Bungalows Offer Private Luxury in the Florida Keys

Ombi has introduced floating bungalows for two in Key Largo.

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
industry spotlight
https://img.youtube.com/vi/-ZWvUd7_21E/0.jpg
The Hidden Potential of River Cruising with Riverside Luxury Cruises
Advertiser's Voice
We Celebrate YOU
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences