B.C. Short-Term Rental Registration & Business Licence Rules in 2026
B.C. short-term rental hosts generally need provincial registration unless an exemption applies. The registration lasts one year, registered offers must display required information, and a local business-licence number must also be shown when a business-licence requirement applies.
Registration is annual
The current B.C. regulation prescribes a one-year registration period. Provincial guidance says hosts renew annually and that new registrations may be required when key information changes, including a new property host or short-term-rental address.
The current host fees are C$100 or C$450
The regulation prescribes C$100 for accommodation provided in the property host's principal residence and C$450 when the accommodation is not provided in the principal residence, including a qualifying secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit. Provincial online service charges can be listed separately during registration.
A provincial number does not replace a local licence
The Act requires a short-term-rental offer to include a valid business-licence number when a business-licence requirement applies, as well as the valid provincial registration number. The regulation also makes compliance with applicable local short-term-rental bylaws a condition of registration.
Registration and insurance answer different questions
Registration asks whether the offer satisfies provincial administrative rules. Insurance asks whether the property, liability, rental income and guest-related exposures are covered under the owner's policy. One should never be presented as proof of the other.
Verify the property, not just the platform listing
Before relying on a listing being active, check the current provincial registration, any local business-licence requirement, applicable strata bylaws and the insurance representative's confirmation of the rental use. Those systems can change independently.
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