Short‑Term Rental Registry Enforcement Begins June 2025

Background

Short‑term rentals (STR) in British Columbia have been under intense scrutiny since the Province passed the Short‑Term Rental Accommodations Act in 2023. The legislation introduced a mandatory provincial registration system for hosts and empowered the new Compliance & Enforcement Unit (CEU) to investigate non‑compliant listings. June 1, 2025 marks the first day that the CEU, together with platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO, will actively remove any B.C. listing that fails to display a valid registration number.

Key details of the June 1 rollout

• Registry number required: All hosts must post their provincial STR registration number on every listing. According to the Ministry of Housing, platforms must automatically delist any property that lacks a valid number (Province of B.C. – STR Registry).
• Compliance & Enforcement Unit: The CEU will audit listings, issue administrative penalties up to $5,000 per day for hosts and $10,000 per day for platforms, and share data with local governments to support by‑law enforcement.
• Primary residence rule remains: Outside of designated resort areas, entire‑home STRs are generally limited to the host’s principal residence plus one secondary suite.

Why it matters for Metro Vancouver owners & investors

• Hosts operating multi‑unit or investment STR portfolios must either register and comply or pivot to long‑term rentals to avoid delisting and hefty fines.
• Local governments gain access to provincial enforcement data, strengthening municipal crack‑downs already observed in Vancouver and Kelowna.
• Reduced STR supply could place additional upward pressure on the region’s long‑term vacancy rate, currently at 0.9 %, and bolster demand for purpose‑built rentals.
• Buyers considering “Airbnb‑able” condos should re‑check zoning and strata bylaws; opportunities may shrink as non‑compliant units exit the market.

Landlords and REALTORS® should review their listings today to ensure every active STR displays a valid registration number and meets the primary residence test. Given the CEU’s mandate and the automatic delisting mechanism, non‑compliance will become visible—and costly—overnight.

This article is for informational purposes only. Statistics and market conditions are current as of the publication date and may change without notice. It is not legal or financial advice. Always verify details and consult qualified professionals before making real-estate decisions.