You need to apply for licences and permits.
In BC, you cannot just jump onto Airbnb or another short-term rentals service and list your property for lease during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Instead, both in Vancouver and BC as a whole, if you are leasing out a property for fewer than 90 days, there are eligibility criteria you must meet and business licences you must receive before doing so.
The following requirements apply before you can list your home as a short-term rental:
- It must be your principal residence.
- You agree to follow local and/or municipal laws regarding short-term rentals.
- You agree to follow the terms and conditions of short-term rentals.
British Columbia requires you to get a provincial registration number. You can apply for this online. Note that this number must be displayed on your short-term rental listing. Be sure to thoroughly read and understand the full requirements. You will have to pay registration fees as well.
If you own multiple properties, you may only list your principal residence for short-term lease. Any other properties you own may not be rented out on short-term leases. And if you live in a strata condo, you must get permission from your strata council before applying for a short-term rental permit.
In Vancouver, you need both a BC provincial registration number and a City of Vancouver short-term rental business licence. This will have application fees separate from the provincial fees, too. Ensure you read and understand the City’s eligibility requirements in addition to the provincial requirements.
Note that while the Province has announced Kelowna is exempt from principal residence requirement regulations starting summer 2026 and that other municipalities may apply for exemptions in 2027, no Metro Vancouver municipalities are exempt in time for FIFA 2026.
Both renters and homeowners can apply.
You do not have to be a homeowner to become a short-term rental operator – renters can apply too. However, if you are a renter, you need to ask your landlord for permission before applying to become a short-term rental operator. Also, this is not a subletting situation, which is a different type of secondary tenancy where BC’s Residential Tenancy Act applies.
Remember that your new short-term tenants are your responsibility.
Once you’ve applied for all the permits required to lease out your space for fewer than 90 days, any temporary tenants you take in are your responsibility. For example, if you live in a condo, those residents must obey your building’s rules, quiet hours and other requirements. They must keep the place clean and orderly and respect their neighbours.
Remember, too, that if you are a renter, if they damage the property, you are on the hook for that as part of your damage deposit. You should also be aware, regardless of whether you own or rent your home, that temporary tenants will be interacting with any belongings you leave in your home. Whether that is furniture, bed linens, towels to cookware and even items left in cabinets, it may be better not to leave anything sentimental behind.
Ultimately, the choice of listing your property for short-term lease is yours. There may be some monetary windfalls coming your way, but also be aware of the rules, costs and risks of doing so.
